Full text of "The Oresteia of Aeschylus; Agamemnon, Choephori, Eumenides. The Greek text as arr. for performance at Cambridge with an English verse translation by R.C. Trevelyan"

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Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2008 with funding from
Microsoft Corporation

https://archive.org/details/oresteiaofaeschyOOaescuoft

THE
ORESTEIA OF AESCHYLUS

PUBLISHERS.

CAMBRIDGE.

LONDON : MACMILLAN & Co., Lrp.
GLASGOW : MACLEHOSE JACKSON & Co

“The Oresteia of Aeschylus

Agamemnon, Choephori, Eumenides

THE GREEK. 'ROXT

as arranged for performance at Cambridge

WITH >
AN ENGLISH VERSE TRANSLATION
BY

RC. TREVELYAN, B.A:
Trinity College

%
ian
Ls ey

CAMBRIDGE : PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
AND PUBLISHED FOR THE GREEK PLAY COMMITTEE BY

BOWES & BOWES

1920

POITORS NOTE

In arranging the text of the Oresteia for per-
formance, the editor has endeavoured to preserve
the balance of the composition, due regard being
had to the fact that the modern orchestra enables
the producer to obtain his lyrical effects more
rapidly than was possible with the simpler ancient
music. Though much has inevitably been sacrificed
which he would have been glad to retain, he hopes
that the Trilogy, as now arranged, will not appear
to the reader to have become a series of disjointed
episodes. ne

The text owes much to the critical work of the
late Dr Walter Headlam. For two choral odes in
the Eumenides (pp. 134 ff. and 140 ff.), the verse
translation composed by the late Dr A. W. Verrall
for an earlier performance of the Eumenzdes has
been retained.

Mr R. C. Trevelyan’s verse translation, which, by
his generous permission, is now printed for the first
time, follows the original line for line, and aims at
reproducing the metrical pattern of Greek in the
lyrical parts.

The music for the Cambridge performance has
been composed by Mr C. Armstrong Gibbs. The
vocal score will shortly be published by Messrs

Goodwin and Tabb, Ltd.
Jat:

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

AGAMEMNON, A7ng of Argos, son of Atreus.
CLYTAEMNESTRA, Ais wife.

ORESTES, fs son.

ELECTRA, Ais daughter.

AEGISTHUS, Ais cousin and enemy, paramour of Clytaem-
nestra.

PYLADES, son of Strophius, friend of Orestes.
CASSANDRA, daughter of Priam, King of Troy.
A WATCHMAN, loyal to Agamemnon.

HERALD of Agamemnon.

NURSE of Orestes.

SERVANT of Aegisthus.

PYTHIAN PROPHETESS.

APOLLO.

ATHENE.

HERMES.

CHORUS of ARGIVE ELDERS, TROJAN BONDWOMEN, and
FURIES.

Retinue of Agamemnon, Women attendant on Clytaemnestra,
Bodyguard of Aegisthus, Areopagites, Athenian
Women, etc.

THE AGAMEMNON

AESCHYLUS

THE AGAMEMNON

Before the royal palace at Argos. Night.

WATCHMAN
The Gods have I besought for my release
This whole long year of vigil, wherein couched
On the Atreidae’s roof on bent arms, dogwise,
I have learnt the nightly sessions of the stars,
Those chiefly that bring storm and heat to men,
The bright conspicuous dynasts of the sky.
Still am I watching for the signal flame,
A beam of fire carrying news from Troy
And tidings of its capture: so dictates
A woman’s sanguine heart to a man’s will joined.
Now when upon my restless dew-damp couch
I have laid me down, this bed of mine where dreams
Haunt not: for fear instead of sleep stands by—
Oft as I have a mind to sing or hum,
A tune in slumber’s stead by way of salve,
Then do I weep the fortunes of this house
No more so wisely managed as of old.
But now blessed release from toil be mine,
And the fire’s happy tidings shine through gloom.

Oh hail, thou lamp, that dawnest on the night
Like daybreak, heralding in Argos many

A choral dance for joy at this good hap!

Toa! Τοῦ!

THE AGAMEMNON

Before the royal palace at Argos. Night.
®YAAZ
Θεοὺς μὲν αἰτῶ τῶνδ᾽ ἀπαλλαγὴν πόνων
φρουρᾶς ἐτείας μῆκος, ἣν κοιμώμενος
, ’ a A \ /

στέγαις ᾿Ατρειδῶν ἄγκαθεν, κυνὸς δίκην,
ἄστρων κάτοιδα νυκτέρων ὁμήγυριν,
καὶ τοὺς φέροντας χεῖμα καὶ θέρος βροτοῖς
λαμπροὺς δυνάστας, ἐμπρέποντας αἰθέρι"
καὶ νῦν φυλάσσω λαμπάδος τὸ σύμβολον,

> \ \ / 2 ,ἷ /
αὐγὴν πυρὸς φέρουσαν ἐκ Τροίας φάτιν

« rd / / z Ν “
ἁλώσιμόν τε βάξιν: ὧδε yap κρατεῖ
γυναικὸς ἀνδρόβουλον ἐλπίζον κέαρ.

FS 1K \ , »” / 9,4.
εὖτ᾽ ἂν δὲ νυκτίπλαγκτον ἔνδροσόν T ἔχω
εὐνὴν ὀνείροις οὐκ ἐπισκοπουμένην
3 / , \ 5 wae! a
ἐμήν: φόβος yap av? ὕπνου παραστατεῖ"
ica tee Lee ΩΝ A lal
ὅταν δ᾽ ἀείδειν ἢ μινύρεσθαι δοκῶ,
ὕπνου τόδ᾽ ἀντίμολπον ἐντέμνων ἄκος,

J {oe yy la) \ /
κλαίω TOT οἴκου τοῦδε συμφορὰν στένων
οὐχ ὡς τὰ πρόσθ᾽ ἄριστα διαπονουμένου.

fa! . a \ / bee: \ /
νῦν δ᾽ εὐτυχὴς γένοιτ᾽ ἀπαλλαγὴ πόνων

> , / 2 / /
εὐαγγέλου φανέντος ὀρφναίου πυρός.

ὦ χαῖρε λαμπτήρ, νυκτὸς ἡμερήσιον
φάος πιφαύσκων καὶ χορῶν κατάστασιν
πολλῶν ἐν ἴΑργει, τῆσδε συμφορᾶς χάριν.
ἰοὺ ἐού.

4 THE AGAMEMNON

Agamemnon’s queen thus loudly do I summon

To arise from her couch and lift within

The house forthwith a shout of holy joy

To greet yon light, if verily Ilium’s town

Be captured, as the announcing beacon boasts.

For the rest I keep silence: on my tongue

A great ox treads: though, had it speech, this house
Might tell a plain tale. I, for folk who know,

Speak gladly: for know-nothings I forget.

[Exit WATCHMAN. CLYTAEMNESTRA’S cry of triumph
is heard within. Enter CHORUS OF ELDERS, |
CHORUS

*Tis the tenth year now since Priam’s mighty
Avenging foe,

Menelaus, and king Agamemnon too,

From the shores of Greece launched forth with a
Argive crews [thousand
United in armed federation.

Loud rang their wrathful warcry forth,

As the scream of vultures robbed of their young,
When in mountain solitudes over their eyrie

They wheel and circle

With endless beating of oarlike wings,

Reft of the nestlings

Their watchful labour had tended.

But above there is one, be it Apollo,

Or Pan, or Zeus, who hearing the shrill

Sad cry of those birds, his suppliant wards,

Shall one day send

Retribution upon the offenders.

Unsolved the event

Still waiteth: and yet to an issue is moving.

THE AGAMEMNON 5

᾿Αγαμέμνονος γυναικὶ σημαίνω τορῶς

> a > / id / /
εὐνῆς ἐπαντείλασαν ὡς τάχος δόμοις 2
ὀλολυγμὸν εὐφημοῦντα τῆδε λαμπάδι,
ἐπορθιάζειν, εἴπερ ᾿Γλίου πόλις
ἘΠῚ id e \ ’ / /
ἑάλωκεν, WS ὁ φρυκτὸς ἀγγέλλων πρέπει"
τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα σιγῶ: βοῦς ἐπὶ γλώσσῃ μέγας
βέβηκεν" οἶκος δ᾽ αὐτός, εἰ φθογγὴν λάβοι, 30
/ > Ἂ / id e \ > Ν
σαφέστατ᾽ ἂν λέξειεν: ὡς ἑκὼν ἐγὼ
μαθοῦσιν αὐδῶ κοὐ μαθοῦσι λήθομαι.
[Exit WATCHMAN. CLYTAEMNESTRA’S cry of triumph
is heard within. Enter CHORUS OF ELDERS. ]
XOPOS
δέκατον μὲν ἔτος τόδ᾽ ἐπεὶ Πριάμου
μέγας ἀντίδικος,
Μενέλαος ἄναξ ἠδ᾽ ᾿Αγαμέμνων, 35
/ > 4 /
στόλον ᾿Αργείων χιλιοναύτην
τῆσδ᾽ ἀπὸ χώρας
ἦραν, στρατιῶτιν ἀρωγήν,
μέγαν ἐκ θυμοῦ κλάζοντες “Apn
τρόπον αἰγυπιῶν, οἵτ᾽ ἐκπατίοις 40
” / e 7
ἄλγεσι παίδων ὑπατηλεχέων
στροφοδινοῦνται
πτερύγων ἐρετμοῖσιν ἐρεσσόμενοι,
δεμνιοτήρη
/ > tA ’ J
πόνον ὀρταλίχων ὀλέσαντες" 45
“4 δέν Ὁ ” ᾽ ,
ὕπατος δ᾽ αίων ἢ τις ᾿Απόλλων
ἢ ILav ἢ Ζεὺς οἰωνόθροον
/ 5 ἢ lal /
γόον ὀξυβόαν τῶνδε μετοίκων,
ὑστερόποινον
, lal ’ /
πέμπει παραβᾶσιν ‘Epivvv. 50
ἔστι δ᾽ ὅπη νῦν
yy “ ΡΨ. \ /
ἔστι" τελεῖται δ᾽ ἐς TO πεπρωμένον"

6 THE AGAMEMNON

Neither oil poured over nor fire lit beneath
Shall temper the stubborn
Wrath for the sacrifice unburnt.

[Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA. |
But thou, O daughter
Of Tyndareus, Clytaemnestra, Queen,
What hath chanced? What tidings have reached
That at every shrine [thine ears,
Thou commandest ritual oblations?
And of all those Gods that frequent our town,
From on high, from beneath,
Whether heavenly sublime, or of earthlier power,
Glowing with gifts are the altars.
And on all sides one by one bright flames
Skyward are leaping,
Medicined and nursed by the innocent spell
And soft persuasion of hallowed gums,
Rich unguent stored for a King’s use.
Hereof what can and may be revealed
Deign thou to declare,
And so be the healer of this my doubt,
Which now to an evil boding sinks,
But anon from the sacrifice Hope grown kind
Drives back from the soul those ravening thoughts,
That grief that gnaws at the heart-roots.

I am come, Clytaemnestra, reverencing

Thy will; for it is just that we should honour

The sovereign’s wife, when the throne lacks its lord.
Now whether certified, or but in hope

Of happy news, thou makest sacrifice,

Fain would I know; yet shall not grudge thee silence.

THE AGAMEMNON

,
οὔθ᾽ ὑποκαίων οὔτ᾽ ἐπιλείβων
> / lal
ἀπύρων ἱερῶν
> ἈΝ > -
opyas atevets παραθέλξει.
[Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA. |
av δέ, Τυνδάρεω
/
θύγατερ, βασίλεια Κλυταιμήστρα,
/ / / ,
τί χρέος; τί νέον; τί δ᾽ ἐπαισθομένη,
τίνος ἀγγελίας
πευθοῖ περίπεμπτα θυοσκεῖς ;
πάντων δὲ θεῶν τῶν ἀστυνόμων,
ὑπάτων, χθονίων,
fal / fal
τῶν T οὐρανίων τῶν T ἀγοραίων,
\ ΄ ,,
βωμοὶ δώροισι φλέγονται"
Yi 5
ἄλλη δ᾽ ἄλλοθεν οὐρανομήκης
\
λαμπὰς ἀνίσχει,
φαρμασσομένη χρίματος ἁγνοῦ
“ / /
μαλακαῖς ἀδόλοισι παρηγορίαις,
/ /
πελάνῳ μυχόθεν βασιλείῳ.
/ / bo \ \
τούτων λέξασ᾽ ὅ τι Kal δυνατὸν
καὶ θέμις αἰνεῖν,
παιών τε γενοῦ τῆσδε μερίμνης,
«Ὁ al ‘ \ , ,
ἣ νῦν τοτὲ μὲν κακόφρων τελέθει,
if fal /
τότε δ᾽ ἐκ θυσιών τὴν θυμοβόρον
ΤΟΣ ΓΜ
φροντίδ᾽ ἄπληστον
/ ce. ἌΣ θεν SS Ν Ε) /
φαίνουσ᾽ ayay ἐλπὶς ἀμύνει.
/
ἥκω σεβίζων σόν, Κλυταιμήστρα, κράτος"
δίκη γάρ ἐστι φωτὸς ἀρχηγοῦ τίειν
nr)
γυναῖκ᾽ ἐρημωθέντος ἄρσενος θρόνου.
\
σὺ δ᾽ εἴ τι κεδνὸν εἴτε μὴ πεπυσμένη
εὐαγγέλοισιν ἐλπίσιν θυηπολεῖς,
/
κλύοιμ᾽ av εὔφρων: οὐδὲ συγώσῃ φθόνος.

315

8ο

Ch.

Cl.

Ch.

Ci.

Ch.
Gi
Ch:

Cl.

Ch.

Cl.

Ch.
Cl.

Ch.

P=)

Cl.

8 THE AGAMEMNON

CLYTAEMNESTRA

With happy tidings, so the proverb runs,

May the dawn issue from her mother night.

But hear now joy greater than any hope:

For the Argives have captured Priam’s town.
How sayst thou? Iscarce heard through unbelief.
The Achaeans now hold Troy. Do I speak plain?
Joy overwhelms me, calling forth a tear.

Thine eye convicts thee of a loyal joy.

But where’s thy warrant? Hast thou proof of this ?
I have. Why not? Unless a God deceives me.
Dost thou respect a dream’s delusive phantoms?
A drowsing mind’s fancy I should not utter.
Hath some vague unwinged rumour cheered thy soul?
My wits thou wouldst disparage like a girl’s.
How long then is it since the town was sacked?
This very night that gives birth to yon dawn.

And what messenger could arrive so speedily?
Hephaestus, from Ida flinging the bright glare.
Then beacon hitherward with posting flame
Sped beacon; Ida first to Hermes’ rock

On Lemnos; from whose isle Athos, the peak
Of Zeus, was third to accept the mighty brand;
Nor did the watch deny the far-sped glow,

But made their bonfire higher than was enjoined.
Then over lake Gorgopis the beam shot,

And having reached mount Aigiplanctus, there
Urged swift performance of the fiery rite.
Kindling they launch with generous energy

A mighty beard of flame which could o’erpass

THE AGAMEMNON 9

KAYTAIMHSTPA

εὐάγγελος μέν, ὥσπερ ἡ παροιμία,

ἕως γένοιτο μητρὸς εὐφρόνης πάρα.

πεύσει δὲ χάρμα μεῖζον ἐλπίδος κλύειν" 85
Πριάμου γὰρ ἡρήκασιν ᾿Ἀργεῖοι πόλιν.

an , / "7 > > /
. TOS φῇς; πέφευγε τοὔπος ἐξ ἀπιστίας.

5 a > 3 a
Τροίαν ᾿Αχαιῶν οὖσαν" ἢ Topas λέγω;
/ ’ e / / > /
χαρώ μ᾽ ὑφέρπει δάκρυον ἐκκαλουμένη.
5 \ lal a a
εὖ yap φρονοῦντος ὄμμα σοῦ κατηγορεῖ. 90
\ \ / a
τί yap τὸ πιστόν; ἔστι τῶνδέ σοι τέκμαρ;
» / ’ > / \ , fal
ἔστιν" τί δ᾽ οὐχί; μὴ δολώσαντος θεοῦ.

. πότερα δ᾽ ὀνείρων φάσματ᾽ εὐπιθῆ σέβεις;

οὐ δόξαν ἂν λάκοιμι βριζούσης φρενός.

. ἀλλ᾽ ἡ σ᾽ ἐπίανέν τις ἄπτερος φάτις ; 95

Ν Oy / . hee) Hy /
παιδὸς νέας ὡς κάρτ᾽ ἐμωμήσω φρένας.
ποίου χρόνου δὲ καὶ πεπόρθηται πόλις ;

“ ἴω Ἃ fe) Lael re 4 /
τῆς νῦν τεκούσης φῶς TOO εὐφρόνης λέγω.

Ἂν; / χοῷ » / > HX > / x ,
. καὶ τίς τόδ᾽ ἐξίκοιτ᾽ ἂν ἀγγέλων τάχος;
. Ἥφαιστος "1dns λαμπρὸν ἐκπέμπων σέλας. 100

\ \ Ν lowes ’ ’ > / \

φρυκτὸς δὲ φρυκτὸν δεῦρ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἀγγάρου πυρὸς
» v \ Ν ς lal fs
ἔπεμπεν" "Ἴδη μὲν πρὸς ‘Eppatov λέπας
Λήμνου: μέγαν δὲ πανὸν ἐκ νήσου τρίτον
"AOwov αἷπος Ζηνὸς ἐξεδέξατο.
φάος δὲ τηλέπομπον οὐκ ἠναίνετο 105
φρουρὰ πλέον καίουσα τῶν εἰρημένων,
λίμνην δ᾽ ὑπὲρ Γοργῶπιν ἔσκηψεν φάος"
“ 5» ’ > 2 / > /
ὄρος T ἐπ᾿ Αὐἰγίπλαγκτον ἐξικνούμενον
ὥτρυνε θεσμὸν μὴ χρονίζεσθαι πυρός.

/ eT > / > / /
πέμπουσι © avoaiovtes ἀφθόνῳ μένει IIo
φλογὸς μέγαν πώγωνα, καὶ Σαρωνικοῦ

Ch.

Cl.

ΙΟ THE AGAMEMNON

The cliff that frowns o’er the Saronic gulf
Far flaring: then it alighted, then it reached
Arachne’s sentinel peak, our city’s neighbour.
And last here on the Atreidae’s roof comes home
This light, true-fathered heir of Ida’s fire.

These are the stages of my torch-racers,
Thus in succession each from each fulfilled.
But he’s the winner who ran from first to last.
Such is the proof and token that I give thee,
This message sped to me by my lord from Troy.
Lady, the Gods hereafter would I praise.
But first would I fain satisfy my wonder
Hearing thy tale from point to point retold.
This day do the Achaeans possess Troy.
’Tis loud, I ween, with cries that blend not well.
Pour vinegar and oil in the same cruse,
And you would say they sundered without love.
Even so the cries of conquerors and captives
Sound distinct as their differing fortunes are.
These falling around the bodies of their husbands
And brothers slain, children it may be clasping
Gray-headed sires, from throats no longer free
Bewail the fate of those whom most they loved;
While these a weary night of roving sends
Hungry from battle to whatever fare
The town affords, not marshalled orderly,
Rather, as each has snatched his lot of luck,
Within the captured palaces of Troy
They are housing now, delivered from the frosts
And dews of the bare sky; and blessedly
Without watch will they sleep the whole night long.
Now if they show due reverence to the Gods

Xo.

Κλ.

THE AGAMEMNON

rn 4 Ὁ ΝΟ / /
πορθμοῦ κάτοπτον πρῶν ὑπερβάλλειν πρόσω

Φ ’ὔ
φλέγουσαν" εἶτ᾽ ἔσκηψεν, εἶτ᾽ ἀφίκετο
᾿Αραχναῖον αἶπος, ἀστυγείτονας σκοπάς"

ΕΣ δι 3 an ’ / / /
κἄπειτ᾽ ᾿Ατρειδῶν ἐς τόδε σκήπτει στέγος
, ANS] > yy > / /
φάος τόδ᾽ οὐκ ἄπαππον ᾿Ιδαίου πυρός.
/ / / ’
τοιοίδε τοί μοι λαμπαδηφόρων νόμοι,
» - 4
ἄλλος παρ᾽ ἄλλου διαδοχαῖς πληρούμενοι"
- vie he lol a
νικᾷ δ᾽ ὁ πρῶτος Kai τελευταῖος δραμών.
a , / \ /
τέκμαρ τοιοῦτο σύμβολόν TE σοὶ λέγω
> Ἂς hs > ᾿ς > te
ἀνδρὸς παραγγείλαντος ἐκ Τροίας ἐμοί.
-“ 9S 3 4
θεοῖς μὲν αὖθις, ὦ γύναι, προσεύξομαι.
f > 9 rn 4 > /
λόγους δ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι τούσδε κἀποθαυμάσαι
a 7 > 3x
διηνεκῶς θέλοιμ᾽ ἂν ὡς λέγοις πάλιν.
/ > \ AD wv Edn .5 ε /
Τροίαν ᾿Αχαιοὶ τῇδ᾽ ἔχουσ᾽ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ.
5 \ ” 2 t ΄
οἶμαι βοὴν ἄμικτον ἐν πόλει πρέπειν.
ὄξος T ἄλειφά T ἐγχέας ταὐτῷ KUT
ST ἄλειφά T ἐγχέας ταὐτῷ κύτει
a > Δ "
διχοστατοῦντ᾽ ἄν, οὐ φίλω, προσεννέποις.
καὶ τῶν ἁλόντων καὶ κρατησάντων δίχα
\ » a a
φθογγὰς ἀκούειν ἔστι συμφορᾶς διπλῆς.
\ ,
οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἀμφὶ σώμασιν πεπτωκότες
ἀνδρῶν κασιγνήτων τε καὶ φυταλμίων
lal , > eek) > > /
παῖδες γερόντων οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξ ἐλευθέρου
, » / ΄ /
δέρης ἀποιμώζουσι φιλτάτων μόρον"
ΕἸ >
τοὺς δ᾽ αὖτε νυκτίπλαγκτος ἐκ μάχης πόνος
\ see e
νήστεις πρὸς ἀρίστοισιν ὧν ἔχει πόλις
/
τάσσει, πρὸς οὐδὲν EV μέρει τεκμήριον,
9 ’ id “ yy / ΄
αλλ ὡς ἕκαστος ἔσπασεν τύχης πάλον,
ἐν αἰχμαλώτοις Τρωικοῖς οἰκήμασιν
ναίουσιν ἤδη, τῶν ὑπαιθρίων πάγων
/ > ? Ἧ id .3 ᾽ /
δρόσων T ἀπαλλαχθέντες, ὡς δ᾽ εὐδαίμονες
> / ig ‘ “ 3 /
ἀφύλακτον εὑδήσουσι πᾶσαν εὐφρόνην.
» > io / \ / ‘
εἰ δ᾽ εὖ σέβουσι τοὺς πολισσούχους θεοὺς

115

130

135

140

Ch.

12 THE AGAMEMNON

That guard the conquered land, and spare their shrines,
Then may the spoilers not in turn be spoiled.

But let no ill-timed lust assail the host

Mastered by greed to plunder what they ought not.
For they have need to win safe passage home.

And if the returning host escape Heaven’s wrath,
The hatred of the dead might haply grow

Less hostile—if no sudden ill befall.

To such fears I, a woman, must give voice.

Yet may good triumph manifestly past doubt;

Of many blessings now would I taste the fruit.
Lady, sober like a wise man’s is thy speech.

Now, having heard proof so trustworthy from thee,
I will address myself to thank the Gods.

Their grace is recompense for all our toils.

[Exit CLYTAEMNESTRA. ]

O sovereign Zeus! O gracious Night,

Who hast won so measureless a glory!

Who over the towers of Troy didst cast

Such a close-drawn net, that none of the great,
Nor yet of the young should escape the immense
Ensnaring mesh

Of thraldom and doom universal.

Zeus, God of guest-right, great I confess him,
Who hath wrought this vengeance; against Alexander
His bow did he hold long bent, that neither
Short of the mark his bolt should alight,

Nor beyond the stars speed idly.

From Zeus came the stroke that felled them: yea that
Is sure truth: clearly may we trace it.
As He determined, so they fared. The fool said,

Xo.

THE AGAMEMNON

\ a e / an fal 3” ἃ /
τοὺς τῆς ἁλούσης γῆς θεῶν θ᾽ ἱδρύματα,
» x e / 3 > a A
ov τἂν ἕλόντες αὖθις ἀνθαλοῖεν av.
Ψ, \ / / / A
ἔρως δὲ μή τις πρότερον ἐμπίπτῃ στρατῷ
o “Ὁδ \
πορθεῖν ἃ μὴ χρή, κέρδεσιν νικωμένους.
rn \ Ν
δεῖ γὰρ πρὸς οἴκους νοστίμου σωτηρίας"
θεοῖς δ᾽ ἀναμπλάκητος εἰ μόλοι στρατός,
/ fol an
εὐήγορον TO πῆμα τῶν ὀλωλότων
γένοιτ᾽ ἄν---εἰ πρόσπαια μὴ τύχοι κακά.
τοιαῦτά τοι γυναικὸς ἐξ ἐμοῦ κλύεις"
\ ᾽ 5 / \ , > “-“
τὸ δ᾽ εὖ κρατοίη, μὴ διχορρόπως ἰδεῖν.
a \ a ¢
πολλῶν yap ἐσθλῶν τὴν ὄνησιν εἱλόμην.

ύναι, KaT ἄνδρα σώφρον᾽ εὐφρόνως λέγεις.
oy ρ ρ γ

> ’
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀκούσας πιστὰ cov τεκμήρια
MY lal io fd
θεοὺς προσειπεῖν αὖ παρασκευάζομαι.
Ἂν > 7 /
χάρις yap οὐκ ἄτιμος εἴργασται πόνων.

[Exit CLYTAEMNESTRA. |

a ἴω ον \ /
ὦ Ζεῦ βασιλεῦ καὶ νὺξ φιλία
μεγάλων κόσμων κτεάτειρα,
ΟΣ > \ / / uv
nt ἐπὶ Tpotas πύργοις ἔβαλες
στεγανὸν δίκτυον, ὡς μήτε μέγαν
μήτ᾽ οὖν νεαρῶν τιν᾽ ὑπερτελέσαι
μέγα δουλείας
γάγγαμον, ἄτης παναλώτου.
/ 2 rn
Δία τοι ξένιον μέγαν αἰδοῦμαι
\ / / ὍΝ at) ,
τὸν τάδε πράξαντ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ᾿Αλεξάνδρῳ
/ / / (4 x
τείνοντα πάλαι τόξον, ὅπως ἂν
x an >
μήτε πρὸ καιροῦ μήθ᾽ ὑπὲρ ἄστρων
ls
βέλος ἠλίθιον σκήψειεν.

145

150

155

160

165

« \ \ ” ᾽ ’ na
Διὸς πλαγὰν ἔχουσιν᾽ εἰπεῖν στρ: a.

πάρεστιν, τοῦτό T ἐξιχνεῦσαι.
»Μ id ΝΜ > ”
ἔπραξαν ws ἔκρανεν. οὐκ ἔφα τις

14 THE AGAMEMNON

‘The Gods above heed not when the loveliness
Of sanctity is trampled down
By mortals.”’ Oh blasphemy!
Tis plain now and manifest
The wage paid for reckless sin,
The doom due to insolent presumption,
Whene’er in kings’ houses wealth superfluous
Beyond the mean teemeth. Yea, let there be
What contents without want
Soberly minded wisdom.
No strong fortress against fate
Hath that man who in wealth’s pride
Spurns from sight as a thing of naught
The mighty altar of Justice.

Yet strong is that obstinate Temptation,
The dire child of fore-designing Ate.
Then all in vain is remedy: unhidden
The mischief glows: baleful is the gleam thereof.
Like metal base, touched and rubbed
By a testing stone, even so
In him too trial reveals
A black stain. Like a child
A winged bird vainly he pursueth.
A dire taint lays he on all his people.
To prayers the Gods’ ears are deaf. Whosoe’er
Even consorts with such men,
Shares in their guilt and ruin.
Even so Paris, a house-guest
Honoured by the Atreidae, .
Did foul wrong to his host’s board
By his theft of a woman.

THE AGAMEMNON

θεοὺς βροτῶν ἀξιοῦσθαι μέλειν
«“ 3447 /
ὅσοις αθίκτων χάρις
πατοῖθ᾽" ὁ δ᾽ οὐκ εὐσεβής.
/ 3. ὃν /
πέφανται δ᾽ ἐκτίνου-
> > / 3 "6
σ᾽ ἀτολμήτων apa,
΄ val Xx /
πνεόντων μεῖζον ἢ δικαίως,
/ / Ὁ ΄
φλεοντων δωμάτων ὑπέρφευ
Ξ \ \ , »Μ et ἢ /
ὑπὲρ TO βέλτιστον. ἔστω δ᾽ ἀπή-
, cal
μαντον, ὥστ᾽ ἀπαρκεῖν
5 , ,
εὖ πραπίδων λαχόντα.
3 (7 \ v
οὐ ἔστιν yap ἔπαλξις
4 \ ’ > \
πλούτου πρὸς κόρον ἀνδρὶ
Ζ fe
λακτίσαντι μέγαν Δίκας
\ > > /
βωμὸν εἰς ἀφάνειαν.

βιᾶται δ᾽ a τάλαινα 1Πειθώ,
προβούλου παῖς ἄφερτος Ατας.

yy \ / > » /

ἄκος δὲ παμμάταιον. οὐκ ἐκρύφθη,
/ / ἴω ? tf /

πρέπει δέ, φῶς αἰνολαμπές, σίνος"

κακοῦ δὲ χαλκοῦ τρόπον
τρίβῳ τε καὶ προσβολαῖς
μελαμπαγὴς πέλει
δικαιωθείς, ἐπεὶ

διώκει παῖς ποτανὸν ὄρνιν,

/, / » »Μ > /
πόλει πρόστριμμ᾽ ἄφερτον ἐνθείς.
λιτᾶν δ᾽ ἀκούει μὲν οὔτις θεῶν"

\ νι} Ζ Lal
τὸν ὃ ἐπίστροφον τῶν

lal 7 oS a
POT ἄδικον καθαιρεῖ.

οἷος καὶ Πάρις ἐλθὼν

ἐς δόμον τὸν ᾿Ατρειδᾶν

ΕΣ

noxuve ξενίαν τράπε-

ζαν κλοπαῖσι γυναικός.

175

180

185

[ἀντ. a.

190

195

200

16 THE AGAMEMNON

Bequeathing to her countrymen noise of shields
Together clashed, thronging spears, stir of vessels
arming,
And bearing death instead of dower to Ilium,
With light step through the gates she is flown
On reckless venture. Sore the wailing then
Throughout the halls, doleful voices crying:
“Ah home of woe! Home and woeful princes, wail !
Ah woeful bed, printed yet with love’s embrace!
Behold the spouse! Bowed with shame, there he sits
In silent unreviling grief. [apart
For her beyond seas he yearns:
Pined with dreams sits he, a sceptred phantom.
Hateful now to his mood seems
The grace of loveliest statues.
Lost the light of her eyes, and lost
Now the love they enkindled.

Anon there come dream-revealed semblances,
Beguiling shapes. Brief the joy, vain the sweet de-
lusion.

For vainly, when he seems to view the phantom bliss,

Between his arms, lo! the vision is flown

And vanishes away beyond recall

On shadowy wings down the paths of slumber.”

Beside the hearth, within the royal palace, such

The grief that haunts, yea and woes transcending these.

But for the host, all who once launched from Hellas’

Some woman now with suffering heart [shore,

In every house mourning sits.

Wounds enough pierce them to the soul’s core.
Whom they sent to the war, them

THE AGAMEMNON

fal >, 9 A > /
λιποῦσα δ᾽ ἀστοῖσιν ἀσπίστορας στρ. β.
κλόνους τε καὶ λογχίμους
ναυβάτας θ᾽ ὁπλισμούς,
ἄγουσά τ᾽ ἀντίφερνον ᾿Ιλίῳ φθορὰν
βέβακεν ῥίμφα διὰ πυλᾶν
ἄτλητα τλᾶσα" πολλὰ δ᾽ ἔστενον
LAND) > / “ lal
τόδ᾽ ἐννέποντες δόμων προφῆται"
“ἰὼ td δῶμα δῶμα καὶ πρόμοι,
ἰὼ λέχος καὶ στίβοι φιλάνορες.
πάρεστι auyas ἀτίμους ἀλοιδόρους
»” 2 3 / ? ω
ἀλγιστ᾽ ἀφημένων ἰδεῖν.
/ + eS /
πόθῳ δ᾽ ὑπερποντίας
/ , > /
φάσμα δόξει δόμων ἀνάσσειν.
5 ΄ Ν n
εὐμόρφων δὲ κολοσσῶν
ἔχθεται χάρις ἀνδρί:
ὀμμάτων δ᾽ ἐν ἀχηνίαις

ἔρρει πᾶσ᾽ ᾿Αφροδίτα.

210

215

220

ὀνειρόφαντοι δὲ πειθήμονες [ἀντ. β.

πάρεισι δόξαι φέρου-
σαι χάριν ματαίαν.

ἄταν γάρ, εὖτ᾽ ἂν ἐσθλά τις δοκῶν Opav— 225
μ yap, εὖ σ ς ρῳ

παραλλάξασα διὰ χερῶν,
βέβακεν ὄψις οὐ μεθύστερον
fal 5 n 3: ef. f ,
πτεροῖς ὁπαδοῦσ᾽ ὕπνου κελεύθοις.
τὰ μὲν κατ᾽ οἴκους ἐφ᾽ ἑστίας ἄχη
ANG > Ν \ lal Δ τ /
τάδ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ τῶνδ᾽ ὑπερβατώτερα.
τὸ πᾶν δ᾽ ἀφ᾽ “Ἕλλανος αἴας συνορμένοις
πενθεῖ ἀτλησικάρδιος
δόμων ἑκάστου πρέπει.
\ a , \ e
πολλὰ γοῦν θιγγάνει πρὸς ἧπαρ.
«Ὁ \ 5)
oUs μὲν γάρ τις ἔπεμψεν

18 THE AGAMEMNON

They know: but now in the man’s stead
Naught comes back to the home of each
Save an urn and some ashes.

The merchant Ares—dead men’s bodies are his go'd—
He whose scales weigh the poising fate of war,
From pyres beneath Ilium
To those that loved them sendeth home
Heavy sore-lamented dust,
Stowing ash that once was man
Into the compass of a jar.
Then mourning each they tell his praise,
How one in craft of war was skilled,
How that one nobly shed his blood,—
‘“All for a woman, wife to another,”
So an angry whisper snarls forth;
And against the sons of Atreus
An accusing grief spreads.
Others under the wall, slain
In their beauty, possess graves
There ’neath Ilian earth, that now
Hides in hate her possessors.

A people’s talk, charged with wrath, is perilous.
Oft ‘tis proved potent as a public curse.

My boding heart waits to hear

Some news that night shroudeth still.

For on men of blood the Gods’

Eyes are fixed; and late or soon

Will the dark Erinues doom

The man who thrives unrighteously

To waste and dwindle luckless down,

Until his light be quenched: and once

THE AGAMEMNON

οἶδεν, ἀντὶ δὲ φωτῶν

7 \ \ > ς ,
τεύχη καὶ σποδὸς εἰς ἑκά-
στου δόμους ἀφικνεῖται.

ὁ χρυσαμοιβὸς δ᾽ "Αρης σωμάτων
καὶ ταλαντοῦχος ἐν μάχῃ δορὸς
πυρωθὲν ἐξ ᾽Ιλίου

f / \
φίλοισι πέμπει βαρὺ
ψῆγμα δυσδάκρυτον ἀν-
τήνορος σποδοῦ γεμί-

Cov λέβητας εὐθέτους.

/ > 3 / »
στένουσι δ᾽ εὖ λέγοντες ἄν-
dpa τὸν μὲν ὡς μάχης ἴδρις,

\ > > lal lal / ,.
τὸν δ᾽ ἐν φοναῖς καλῶς πεσόντ᾽ —
“ἀλλοτρίας διαὶ γυναικός"
τάδε σῖγά τις βαὔζει"
φθονερὸν δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἄλγος ἕρπει
προδίκοις ᾿Ατρείδαις.

οἱ δ᾽ αὐτοῦ περὶ τεῖχος
θήκας ᾿Γλιάδος γᾶς
εὔμορφοι κατέχουσιν" ἐ-

χθρὰ δ᾽ ἔχοντας ἔκρυψεν.

a o) ν n / \ ,
βαρεῖα δ᾽ ἀστῶν φάτις ξὺν κότῳ"
δημοκράντου δ᾽ ἀρᾶς τίνει χρέος.

>’ Qn
μένει δ᾽ ἀκοῦσαί τί μου
μέριμνα νυκτηρεφές.
τῶν πολυκτόνων γὰρ οὐκ
” /
ἄσκοποι θεοί. κελαι-

\ νῦν, 4 /
vai δ᾽ ᾿Ερινύες χρόνῳ
τυχηρὸν ὄντ᾽ ἄνευ δίκας
fal nr /

παλιντυχεῖ τριβᾷ βίου

-“ > > / > > 3.
τιθεῖσ᾽ ἀμαυρόν, ἐν δ᾽ ai-

το

[στρ. γ.

240

245

250

255

[ἀντ. γ.

265

20 THE AGAMEMNON

Lost in the darkness, who shall help him?
In excess of glory is peril.

For on mortals overweening

Are the bolts of Zeus sped.

Mine be fortune unenvied.

No walled towns would I conquer,

Nor yet live to behold my age

Slave to alien masters.

[Enter a HERALD.|
HERALD

O land of Argos, thou my native soil,
To thee this tenth-born year do I return,
Of many broken hopes still grasping one.
Ne’er could I dream here in this Argive earth
Dying to share that burial I so longed for.
O palace of our kings, beloved abode,
Ye solemn seats, and ye, dawn-fronting Deities,
If e’er of old, with radiant eyes this day
Welcome with pomp our king so long time gone.
For to you and to all these alike returns
Prince Agamemnon, bringing light in gloom.
Come, ye must greet him joyfully, as beseems,
Who with the mattock of Avenging Zeus
Hath digged down Troy, and ploughed her soil to dust.
Having laid on Troy so fell a yoke, the elder
Of Atreus’ children, fortunate among princes,
Returns, of all men living worthiest praise.
Ch. Joy to thee, herald of the Achaean host!
Her. Joy is mine. Now let me die, if heaven so wills.
Ch. Hath longing for thy fatherland so tortured thee?
Her. So that for joy mine eyes weep tears upon it.

THE AGAMEMNON 21

στοις τελέθοντος οὔτις ἀλκά"

\ |. ayy ‘ / 9S
τὸ δ᾽ ὑπερκόπως κλύειν εὖ
βαρύ: βάλλεται γὰρ ὄσσοις
Διόθεν κεραυνός. 270
κρίνω δ᾽ ἄφθονον ὄλβον:
μήτ᾽ εἴην πτολυιπόρθης

ον s >’ \ £ \ is δὴν τα
μὴτ οὖν αὐτὸς ἁλοὺς ὑπ ἀλ-

/ /
λῳ βίον κατίδοιμι.
[Enter a HERALD.]

KHPYZ
ἰὼ πατρῷον οὖδας ᾿Αργείας χθονός, 275
, / “ον > / »

δεκάτῳ σε φέγγει τῷδ᾽ ἀφικόμην ἔτους,
πολλῶν ῥαγεισῶν ἐλπίδων μιᾶς τυχών.

> / ? ΕΣ AW > > / \
ov γάρ ToT ηὔχουν τῇδ᾽ ἐν ᾿Αργείᾳ χθονὶ
θανὼν μεθέξειν φιλτάτου τάφου μέρος.
ἰὼ μέλαθρα βασιλέων, φίλαι στέγαι, 280
σεμνοί τε θᾶκοι, δαίμονές τ᾽ ἀντήλιοι,

ΕΣ / lal ἄν
εἴ που πάλαι, φαιδροῖσι τοισίδ᾽ ὄμμασι
δέξασθε κόσμῳ βασιλέα πολλῷ χρόνῳ.
“ \ Ce re Lal » > / /
ἥκει yap υμῖν φώς ἐν εὐφρόνῃ φέρων

\ an ee \ > / ΝΜ -

καὶ τοῖσδ᾽ ἅπασι κοινὸν ᾿Αγαμέμνων ἄναξ. 285
’ > S ’ / \ \ io /
arr εὖ νιν ἀσπάσασθε, καὶ yap οὖν πρέπει,
Τροίαν κατασκάψαντα τοῦ δικηφόρου
Διὸς μακέλλῃ, τῇ κατείργασται πέδον.
τοιόνδε Τροίᾳ περιβαλὼν ζευκτήριον

»Μ , / / > / ᾽ Ἁ
ἄναξ ᾿Ατρείδης πρέσβυς εὐδαίμων ἀνὴρ 290
“ / ~~ 3 te fal
ἥκει, τίεσθαι δ᾽ ἀξιώτατος βροτών.

. κῆρυξ ᾿Αχαιῶν χαῖρε τῶν ἀπὸ στρατοῦ.
. χαίρω. τεθναίην. οὐκέτ᾽ ἀντερῶ θεοῖς.
. ἔρως πατρῴας τῆσδε γῆς σ᾽ ἐγύμνασεν.

7 > a
ὥστ᾽ ἐνδακρύειν γ᾽ ὄμμασιν χαρᾶς ὕπο. 295

22 THE AGAMEMNON

Ch. Sweet then was the disease with which you languished.
Her. How so? Not yet do I understand your words.
Ch. Not unreturned was this thy yearning love.
Her, Our country pined then for its pining host?
Ch. Full oft with desolate heart we sighed for you.
Her. Whence came this gloom, clouding the host’s return?
Ch. Silence I have long used, as harm’s best cure.
Her. How so? The kings being gone, didst thou fear
someone?
Ch. As thou didst say but now, ’twere joy to die.
Her. Because the event is well: though in all those years
Much may we reckon prosperously sped,
And much deplorably. Who save a God
May abide scathless everlastingly?
Were I to cite our hardships and ill-lodgings,
Comfortless berths on narrow decks—and what
Did we not lack by day, poor groaning wretches?
And then on land—there it was worse distress,
Bivouacked close beneath the enemy’s walls:
Down from the sky, and from the fenny ground
Rained drizzling dews, a never-ceasing plague,
Making our hairy garments full of vermin.
Or should I tell of that bird-killing cold,
Unbearable winter gusts from Ida’s snows,
Or of the heat, when in his noontide couch
Windless and waveless the sea sank to rest—
But what need to complain? Past is that misery.
Past is it for the dead, that nevermore
Will they take trouble even to rise again.
For us, the relics of the Argive host,
The gain prevails, the injury is outweighed.
Ch. Cheerfully I accept defeat in argument.

| sel

Xo.
Κη.
Χο.
Κη.

Κη.
Χο.
Κη.

Χο.

THE AGAMEMNON 23

an ἄγει Le ὦ fel vee) 7 /
τερπνῆς ap ἦτε τῆσδ᾽ ἐπήβολοι νόσου.
πῶς δή; διδαχθεὶς τοῦδε δεσπόσω λόγου.
“ » / e / ,
τῶν ἀντερώντων ἱμέρῳ TETANY EVOL.
ποθεῖν ποθοῦντα τήνδε γῆν στρατὸν λέγεις.
΄ ΄ >’ > lal > / ’ »
ὡς TOAX ἀἁμαυρᾶς ἐκ φρενὸς αὶ ἀναστένειν. 300
Aa Ν ὃ / γε log | a / / >
πόθεν τὸ δύσφρον TOUT ἐπῆν, στύγος στράτῳ;
/ \ r / ,
πάλαι τὸ σιγᾶν φάρμακον βλάβης ἔχω.
καὶ TOS; ἀπόντων κοιράνων ἔτρεις τινάς;
la) N \ -
ὡς νῦν, τὸ σὸν δή, καὶ θανεῖν πολλὴ χάρις.
> \ / a tal
εὖ γὰρ TETPAKTAL. ταῦτα δ᾽ ἐν πολλῷ χρόνῳ 305
\ A a 5)
Ta μέν τις ἂν λέξειεν εὐπετῶς ἔχειν,
3 ΡΟΝ; , \ \ A
Ta δ᾽ αὖτε κἀπίμομφα. Tis δὲ πλὴν θεῶν
Ν > lal ,
ἅπαντ᾽ ἀπήμων τὸν δι᾽ αἰῶνος χρόνον;
/ \ » / \ /
μόχθους yap εἰ λέγοιμι Kal δυσαυλίας
\ /
σπαρνὰς παρείξεις Kal KAKOTTPH TOUS, TL δ᾽ οὐ 310
/ /
στένοντες OV λαχόντες ἤματος μέρος;
Φ an / /
τὰ δ᾽ αὖτε χέρσῳ καὶ προσῆν πλέον στύγος"
εὐναὶ γὰρ ἦσαν δαΐων πρὸς τείχεσιν.
» > fal ‘ 5 Ν fol /
ἐξ οὐρανοῦ δὲ κἀπὸ γῆς λειμώνιαι
/ / Μ /
δρόσοι κατεψάκαζον, ἔμπεδον σινος, 315
ἐσθημάτων τιθέντες ἔνθηρον τρίχα.
lal / /
χειμῶνα δ᾽ εἰ λέγοι τις οἰωνοκτόνον,
- a> » ’ / /
οἷον παρεῖχ᾽ ἄφερτον ᾿Ιδαία χιών,
x / i f : a
ἢ θάλπος, εὖτε πόντος ἐν μεσημβριναῖς
᾽ ys ¢
κοίταις ἀκύμων νηνέμοις εὕδοι πεσών. -- 320
rn an val / /
τί ταῦτα πενθεῖν δεῖ; παροίχεται πόνος"
, / lal /
παροίχεται δέ, τοῖσι μὲν τεθνηκόσιν
Ν / ᾽ 4“ + Yon ee) n , ᾿
τὸ μήποτ᾽ αὖθις μηδ᾽ ἀναστῆναι μέλειν.
ἡμῖν δὲ τοῖς λοιποῖσιν ᾿Αργείων στρατοῦ
Lol \ / fal 2 » ᾽ / ΕΣ
νικᾷ τὸ κέρδος, πῆμα δ᾽ οὐκ ἀντιρρέπει. 325
7
νικώμενος λόγοισιν οὐκ ἀναίνομαι"

Ch.

24 THE AGAMEMNON

Old age is always young enough to learn.

But the house and Clytaemnestra this news most
Should interest, and make me too rich in joy.

I lifted up a jubilant cry long since,

When first by night came that fire-messenger
Telling of Ilium’s capture and destruction.

But thou, why tell the full tale now to me?

Soon from the king’s self shall I learn it all.
Rather, that I may best make speed to welcome
My revered husband to his home, (for what

More sweet to a wife’s eves than that day’s light,
When to her spouse, whom heaven has saved from war,
She unbars the gate?) this to my lord declare:

Let him speed hither to meet his people’s love;
And at home may he find a faithful wife,

Even such as he left her, a house-dog kind

To him she loves, to ill-wishers a foe,

And in all else unchanged, ne’er having yet
Broken one seal in all that length of time.

No more of dalliance, (no, nor of scandal’s breath,)
With another man do 1 know, than of dipping bronze.

[Exit.]

. Big is the boast, though weighted well with truth,

Scarce seemly for a noble wife to utter.
Thus to thine understanding hath she spoken,
Most—-speciously—to shrewd interpreters.

[A triumphal march. Enter AGAMEMNON,
KASSANDRA, étc.|

Come now, O king, despoiler of Troy,
Offspring of Atreus!
How shall I hail thee? How pay thee homage,

Κλ.

Κη.

Χο.

THE AGAMEMNON

RN \ c a lal , » a
ἀεὶ yap ἡβᾷ τοῖς γέρουσιν εὐμαθεῖν.
/ \ lal \ ΄ ,
δόμοις δὲ ταῦτα καὶ Κλυταιμήστρᾳ μέλειν
2X / \ \ , ) /
εἰκὸς μάλιστα, σὺν δὲ πλουτίζειν ἐμέ.
ἀνωλόλχυξα μὲν πάλαι χαρᾶς ὕπο,
- ee 2: oS - / ” ,
ὅτ᾽ AO ὁ πρῶτος νύχιος ἄγγελος πυρός,
/ [7 5» ΄ , εἰ ͵
φράζων ἅλωσιν ᾿Ιλίου T ἀνάστασιν.
r \ r
Kal νῦν τὰ μάσσω μὲν Ti δεῖ σέ μοι λέγειν ;
“ » lal / /
ἄνακτος αὐτοῦ πάντα πεύσομαι λόγον.
.“ > Ψ Ν 83. N " “ ΄
ὅπως δ᾽ ἄριστα τὸν ἐμὸν αἰδοῖον πόσιν
σπεύσω πάλιν μολόντα δέξασθαι-- τί γὰρ
Ξ ΄ 4 “
γυναικὶ τούτου φέγγος ἥδιον δρακεῖν,
> fal
ἀπὸ στρατείας ἀνδρὶ σώσαντος θεοῦ
΄ὔ al a) / ΄
πύλας ἀνοΐῖξαι;---ταῦτ᾽ ἀπάγγειλον πόσει"
" δ ᾽
ἥκειν ὅπως τάχιστ᾽ ἐράσμιον πόλει"
a \ Ἂν 5 Ὁ \
γυναῖκα πιστὴν δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις εὕροι μοχὼν
LA
οἵανπερ οὖν ἔλειπε, δωμάτων κύνα
2 \ ; / / al ig
ἐσθλὴν ἐκείνῳ, πολεμίαν τοῖς δύσφροσιν,
, /
Kal τἄλλ᾽ ὁμοίαν πάντα, σημαντήριον
, \ /, ᾽ / /
οὐδὲν διαφθείρασαν ἐν μήκει χρόνου.
- ᾽ ,
οὐδ᾽ οἶδα τέρψιν οὐδ᾽ ἐπίψογον φάτιν
3, \ lal A cal
ἄλλου πρὸς ἀνδρὸς μᾶλλον ἢ χαλκοῦ βαφας.
(Exit. ]

TOLOGO ὁ κόμπος τῆς ἀληθείας γέμων
οὐκ αἰσχρὸς ὡς γυναικὶ γενναίᾳ λακεῖν.
αὕτη μὲν οὕτως εἶπε μανθάνοντί σοι
τοροῖσιν ἑρμηνεῦσιν εὐπρεπῶς λόγον.

[A triumphal march. Enter AGAMEMNON,

KASSANDRA, étc.]

ἄγε δή, βασιλεῦ, Τροίας πτολίπορθ'᾽,
᾿Ατρέως γένεθλον,

πῶς σε προσείπω; πῶς σε σεβίζω

930

335

340

350

26 THE AGAMEMNON

Neither o’ershooting, nor yet scanting

Due gratulation?

For most men practising outward shows

Hide thoughts perverse and unrighteous.

Sighs prompt and apt for another’s mischance
Each hath in plenty; yet ne’er doth an unfeigned
Sting of anguish pierce to the heart-strings:

And copying the looks of those that rejoice
They compel their lips to a counterfeit smile.
Yet should the wisely discerning shepherd

Ne’er be deceived by the eyes of fawners,

That dissembling a loyal and cordial love
Flatter him with watery affection.

And of old when thou wast levying war

For Helen’s sake, then, I deny not,

Graceless indeed was the image I formed of thee;
Ill-steered did thy wits seem thus to be spending
The life-blood of heroes

To redeem a consenting adulteress.

But now we greet thee with heart-deep love.
Happy endings make happy labours.

[Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA.]
Thou by inquisition erelong shalt learn

Whose stewardship of thy state is now
Proved faithful, and whose unfaithful.

AGAMEMNON
First to Argos and her native Gods my prayers
Are due, since they have aided my return,
And the Justice I have wreaked upon the town
Of Priam. For the Gods, when they had heard
Our voiceless plea, into the vase of blood

THE AGAMEMNON

, EAL ς / ars As /
une ὑπεράρας μήθ᾽ ὑποκάμψας
καιρὸν χάριτος ;
πολλοὶ δὲ βροτῶν τὸ δοκεῖν εἶναι

προτίουσι δίκην παραβάντες.
τῷ δυσπραγοῦντι δ᾽ ἐπιστενάχειν

la) Ὁ“ “Ὁ \ /
πᾶς τις ἕτοιμος" δῆγμα δὲ λύπης

οὐδὲν ἐφ᾽ ἧπαρ προσικνεῖται"
καὶ ξυγχαίρουσιν ὁμοιοπρεπεῖς
ἀγέλαστα πρόσωπα βιαζόμενοι.
“ a] > \ /
ὅστις δ᾽ ἀγαθὸς προβατογνώμων,

" yy lal ” ff
οὐκ ἔστι λαθεῖν ὄμματα φωτός,

\ 4 > » 2 /
τὰ δοκοῦντ᾽ evppovos ἐκ διανοίας

e fal , /

ὑδαρεῖ σαίνειν φιλότητι.

\ / , \ ΄ \
συ δέ μοι TOTE μὲν στελλων στρατιαν

«ς / “ ’ > > /
Ἑλένης ἕνεκ᾽, οὐκ ἐπικεύσω,

κάρτ᾽ ἀπομούσως ἦσθα γεγραμμένος,

50» Ss / v /
οὐδ᾽ εὖ πραπίδων οἴακα νέμων
θάρσος ἑκούσιον

53 / / /
ἀνδράσι θνήσκουσι κομίζων.

fal ’
νῦν δ᾽ οὐκ ἀπ᾽ ἄκρας φρενὸς οὐδ᾽ ἀφίλως

εὔφρων πόνος εὖ τελέσασιν.
[Enter CLYTAEMNESTRA. |

͵ \ , /
γνώσει δὲ χρόνῳ διαπευθόμενος
τὸν τε δικαίως καὶ τὸν ἀκαίρως

πόλιν οἰκουροῦντα πολιτῶν.

ATAMEMNQN

A \ ” \ \ 2 fe
πρῶτον μὲν "Apyos καὶ θεοὺς ἐγχωρίους
δίκη προσειπεῖν, τοὺς ἐμοὶ μεταιτίους

/ / piv 3 / /
νόστου δικαίων θ᾽ ὧν ἐπραξάμην πόλιν
Πριάμου" δίκας γὰρ οὐκ ἀπὸ γλώσσης θεοὶ
κλύοντες ἀνδροκμῆτας ᾿Ιλίου φθορὰς

360

365

375

380

28 THE AGAMEMNON

For [lium’s overthrowing cast their votes

With one consent; while to the opposite urn
Hope of the hand came nigh, yet filled it not.
Her smoke still witnesseth the city’s fall.

The coils of doom yet live, and dying with them
The ashes pant forth opulent breaths of richness.
For this a memorable return we now

Must pay the Gods, since we have woven high
Our wrathful toils, and for one woman stolen

A town has been laid low by the Argive monster,
The horse’s brood, the grim shield-bearing folk,
Rousing to spring what time the Pleiads set.
Yea leaping o’er the wall like a fleshed lion

It lapped its fill of proud and princely blood.
This ample prelude to the Gods is due.

Now for thy hinting—I heard and bear in mind.
I say the same, and share in thy suspicions.

I speak with knowledge, having throughly learned
How friendship is a mirror, a shadow’s ghost,
The hypocrite’s pretence to wish me well.

But where we find need of medicinal cure,

By wise use of the knife or cautery

We will endeavour to expel disease.

Now to my palace and domestic hearth

I pass within, there first to greet the Gods,

Who sent me forth and thus have brought me home.
May victory still bide with me to the end.

. Townsmen of Argos, reverend counsellors,

I blush not to confess to you my love

And woman’s fondness. As years pass, timidity
Wanes in us all. No witness but my own

I need to tell what grievous life was mine

Κλ.

THE AGAMEMNON

> e \ lal

εἰς αἱματηρὸν τεῦχος οὐ διχορρόπως
/ » “ Tee J / #
ψήφους ἔθεντο' τῷ δ᾽ ἐναντίῳ κύτει

3 \ 2 ~ ,
ἐλπὶς προσῇει χειρὸς οὐ πληρουμένῳ.

a ri ke fal lal CY a » ,
καπνῷ δ᾽ ἁλοῦσα νῦν ἔτ᾽ εὔσημος πόλις.
” 4 A
ἄτης θύελλαι ζῶσι: συνθνήσκουσα δὲ

\ / ’ὔ
σποδὸς προπέμπει πίονας πλούτου πνοάς.

/ “
τούτων θεοῖσι χρὴ πολύμνηστον χάριν

/
τίνειν, ἐπείπερ Kal Tayas ὑπερκότους
> / \ \ 4
ἐφραξάμεσθα καὶ γυναικὸς οὕνεκα
πόλιν διημάθυνεν ᾿Αργεῖον δάκος,
vA , >, / 7
ἵππου νεοσσός, ἀσπιδοστρόφος λεώς,

/ 7
πήδημ᾽ ὀρούσας ἀμφὶ |[λειάδων δύσιν"
e \ \ Ἃ > \ /
ὑπερθορὼν δὲ πύργον ὠμηστὴς λέων
χὸὃ μὲ “ a
ἄδην ἔλειξεν αἵματος τυραννικοῦ.

° \ > / / /
θεοῖς μὲν ἐξέτεινα φροίμιον τόδε"
\ rt | \ \ f / /
τὰ δ᾽ ἐς TO σὸν φρόνημα, μέμνημαι κλύων,
’ ’
καὶ φημὶ ταὐτὰ καὶ συνήγορόν μ᾽ ἔχεις.

᾽ \ / DIE. Ψ \ 2 ,
εἰδὼς λέγοιμ᾽ ἄν, εὖ γὰρ ἐξεπίσταμαι,

ς Ἂ ἴω
ὁμιλίας κάτοπτρον, εἴδωλον σκιᾶς,
δοκοῦντας εἶναι κάρτα πρευμενεῖς ἐμοί.
ὅτῳ δὲ καὶ δεῖ φαρμάκων παιωνίων

t PH >
> ΄. /
ἤτοι KEAVTES ἢ τεμόντες εὐφρόνως
πειρασόμεσθα πήματος τρέψαι νόσον.

fal / /
νῦν δ᾽ ἐς μέλαθρα καὶ δόμους ἐφεστίους

a rn /
ἐλθὼν θεοῖσι πρῶτα δεξιώσομαι,

7 / ’
οἵπερ πρόσω πέμψαντες ἤγωγον πάλιν.

/ cle ye) / “ ’ b , /
νίκη δ᾽ ἐπείπερ ἕσπετ᾽, ἐμπέδως μένοι.

, lal / / /
ἄνδρες πολῖται, πρέσβος ᾿Αργείων τόδε,
οὐκ αἰσχυνοῦμαι τοὺς φιλάνορας τρόπους

a x ig lal > / ᾽ > /
λέξαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς: ἐν χρόνῳ δ᾽ ἀποφθίνει

Ν / 5 ‘ 3 ” /
τὸ τάρβος ἀνθρώποισιν. οὐκ ἄλλων πάρα
μαθοῦσ᾽, ἐμαυτῆς δύσφορον λέξω βίον

400

405

410

415

30 THE AGAMEMNON

All that long while my lord lay beneath [lium.
First for a woman ’tis a woeful trial

To sit at home forlorn, her husband far,

Her ears filled ever with persistent tales,

One close upon the other’s heels with news
Each of some worse disaster than the last.

And as for wounds, if my lord had received

As many as rumour deluged us withal,

No net had been more full of holes than he.
And had he died oft as report declared,

A second Geryon with triple body

A threefold vest of earth he might have boasted,
Dying once for each several shape anew.

By reason of such persistent rumours, oft

Have others loosened from my neck perforce
The hanging noose, foiling my fond desire.
Hence too the boy Orestes, the true bond

Of confidence between us, stands not here
Beside me, as he should. Nor think it strange.
He is in safe keeping with our good ally,
Strophius the Phocian, who has warned me oft
Of double mischief, thine own peril first

Before Troy, and the fear lest turbulent anarchy
Might risk some plot against us, as men’s wont
Is to spurn him the more who has been cast down.
Such were my reasons, honest and without guile.
But as for me, the fountains of my tears

Have run themselves quite dry. No drop is left.
And my late-watching eyes have suffered hurt
Weeping thy nightly pomp of torch-bearers
Neglected ever. And the wailing gnat

With faintest pulse of wing would startle me

THE AGAMEMNON

/ St ὧν, Φ Φ ig 2/9 /
τοσόνδ᾽ ὅσονπερ οὗτος HY ὑπ᾽ ᾿Ιλίῳ.
a lal 7 /
TO μὲν γυναῖκα πρῶτον ἄρσενος δίχα
a , Ψ ” /
ἧσθαι δόμοις ἔρημον ἔκπαγλον κακόν,

/ /
πολλὰς κλύουσαν κληδόνας παλυγκότους"
καὶ τὸν μὲν ἥκειν, τὸν δ᾽ ἐπεσφέρειν κακοῦ

/ A fl ΄ ’
κάκιον ἄλλο πῆμα, λάσκοντας δόμοις.
\ /
Kal τραυμάτων μὲν εἰ τόσων ἐτύγχανεν
\ ¢ 3
ἁνὴρ ὅδ᾽, ὡς πρὸς οἶκον ὠχετεύετο
΄ / / / /
φάτις, τέτρηται δικτύου πλέον λέγειν.
> /
εἰ δ᾽ ἦν τεθνηκώς, ὡς ἐπλήθυον λόγοι,
τρισώματός τἂν Τ᾿ηρυὼν ὁ δεύτερος
Ν / lal b } a
χθονὸς τρίμοιρον χλαῖναν ἐξηύχει λαβεῖν,
“ ς / \ ΓΑ
ἅπαξ ἑκάστῳ κατθανὼν μορφώματι.
lal 3." Ok / /
τοιῶνδ᾽ ἕκατι κληδόνων παλιγκότων
\ », 5 ΄ See ,
πολλὰς ἄνωθεν aptavas ἐμῆς dépns
I
ἔλυσαν ἄλλοι πρὸς βίαν λελιμμένης.
ἐκ τῶνδέ τοι παῖς ἐνθάδ᾽ οὐ παραστατεῖ,
ἐμῶν τε καὶ σῶν κύριος πιστωμάτων,
e an 5 ΄ \ / /
ὡς χρῆν, Opéorns: μηδὲ θαυμάσῃς τόδε.
/ \ > \ > \ 4
τρέφει yap αὐτὸν εὐμενὴς δορύξενος
Στρόφιος ὁ Φωκεύς, ἀμφίλεκτα πήματα
al /
ἐμοὶ προφωνῶν, τόν θ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ᾿Ιλίῳ σέθεν
/ x
κίνδυνον, εἴ Te δημόθρους ἀναρχία
\ ξ
βουλὴν καταρράψειεν, ὥστε σύγγονον
lal \ dé
βροτοῖσι τὸν πεσόντα λακτίσαι πλέον.
τοιάδε μέντοι σκῆψις οὐ δόλον φέρει.
ἔμοιγε μὲν δὴ κλαυμάτων ἐπίσσυτοι
πηγαὶ κατεσβήκασιν, οὐδ᾽ ἔνι σταγών.
>
ἐν ὀψικοίτοις δ᾽ ὄμμασιν βλάβας ἔχω
\ / ,
Tas ἀμφί σοι κλαίουσα λαμπτηρουχίας
> / oy 2 »" τῷ /
ἀτημελήτους αἰέν. ἐν δ᾽ ὀνείρασιν
λεπταῖς ὑπαὶ κώνωπος ἐξηγειρόμην

420

425

430

435

440

32 THE AGAMEMNON

From dreams wherein I saw thee pass through more
Than could befall within the time I slept.

Now after all these trials, with heart unpined,

I hail my husband watch-dog of the fold,

The ship’s securing stay, the lofty roof’s
Firm-grounded pillar, the father’s sole-born child,
Or as land espied by seamen beyond hope,

Daylight as it looks fairest after storm,

A fresh spring to the thirsty wayfarer.

Such are the terms I choose to praise him fitly.

Let envy keep afar, since woes in plenty

We endured before. Now, most dear lord, descend
From yonder car; but set not upon earth

That foot, O king, wherewith thou hast trampled Troy.
Women, delay not. Know ye not your task?

Strew ye the path he treads with tapestries.
Straight let his way be carpeted with purple,

That Justice lead him to a home scarce hoped for.
For the rest a never-slumbering vigilance

Shall order justly as fate, I trust, intends.

. Offspring of Leda, guardian of my home,

Lengthily, to the measure of my absence,

Hast thou stretched out thy speech: but seemly praise,
That tribute should proceed from other lips.
Moreover shame not me with womanish fopperies,
Nor grovel before me with loud-mouthed clamour,
As though I were some oriental king;

Nor with strown garments make my steps the gaze
Of envy. To the Gods such pomp belongs.

To tread, a mortal, over broidered fineries,

That to my conscience were a thing of fear.

As man, not God, I bid you reverence me.

THE AGAMEMNON

id lal / > , /
ῥιπαῖσι θωύσσοντος, ἀμφί σοι πάθη
ὁρῶσα πλείω τοῦ ξυνεύδοντος χρόνου.
νῦν ταῦτα πάντα τλᾶσ᾽ ἀπενθήτῳ φρενὶ
λέγοιμ᾽ ἂν ἄνδρα τόνδε τῶν σταθμῶν κύνα,
σωτῆρα ναὸς πρότονον, ὑψηλῆς στέγης
στῦλον ποδήρη, μονογενὲς τέκνον πατρί,
\ nr “ / 3" 3 /
καὶ γῆν φανεῖσαν ναυτίλοις παρ᾽ ἐλπίδα,
κάλλιστον ἦμαρ εἰσιδεῖν ἐκ χείματος,
ε / lal cal «"
ὁδοιπόρῳ διψῶντι πηγαῖον ῥέος.
lal / / > n /
τοιοῖσδέ τοί νιν aia προσφθέγμασιν.
΄ 3.3 / \ \ \ \ \
φθόνος δ᾽ ἀπέστω" πολλὰ γὰρ τὰ πρὶν κακὰ
by / lal / ΄ ,
ἠνειχόμεσθα. νῦν δέ μοι, φίλον κάρα,
” 3 ΄ a \ \ \
ἔκβαιν᾽ ἀπήνης τῆσδε, μὴ χαμαὶ τιθεὶς
\ \ [AN a > / /
Tov σὸν πόδ᾽, ὠναξ, ᾿Ιλίου πορθήτορα.
ὃμῳαΐί, τί μέλλεθ᾽, αἷς ἐπέσταλται τέλος
πέδον κελεύθου στρωννύναι πετάσμασιν;
εὐθὺς γενέσθω πορφυρόστρωτος πόρος
> lal ba ee £ Xv id an /
ἐς δῶμ᾽ ἄελπτον ὡς ἂν ἡγῆται δίκη.
\ Ἂς oF \ > ec ΄
τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα φροντὶς οὐχ ὕπνῳ νικωμένη
θήσει δικαίως σὺν θεοῖς εἱμαρμένα.
Αγ. Λήδας γένεθλον, δωμάτων ἐμῶν φύλαξ,
ἀπουσίᾳ μὲν εἶπας εἰκότως ἐμῇ"
\ \ 5." ’ J 3 ,
μακρὰν yap ἐξέτεινας" ἀλλ᾽ ἐναισίμως
’ rf Seow, \ ANT /
αἰνεῖν, Tap ἄλλων χρὴ τόδ᾽ ἔρχεσθαι γέρας"
καὶ τἄλλα μὴ γυναικὸς ἐν τρόποις ἐμὲ
\ , \ /
ἅβρυνε, μηδὲ βαρβάρου φωτὸς δίκην
χαμαιπετὲς βόαμα προσχάνῃς ἐμοί,
> “ fi 5 ¥, /
μηδ᾽ εἵμασι στρώσασ᾽ ἐπίφθονον πόρον
lal r ,
τίθει" θεούς τοι τοῖσδε τιμαλφεῖν χρεών"
ἐν ποικίλοις δὲ θνητὸν ὄντα κάλλεσιν
/ > \ \ > a ” 4
βαίνειν ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδαμῶς ἄνευ φόβου.
/ /
λέγω κατ᾽ ἄνδρα, μὴ θεόν, σέβειν ἐμέ.
A, 3

450

460

465

470

475

34 THE AGAMEMNON

No need of foot-cloths and embroideries:

Fame’s voice rings loud enough. Heaven’s greatest
Is a sane mind. Happy let him be called [gift
Whose life has ended in felicity.

Acting in all things thus, naught need I fear.

. Come now, if judgment sanction, tell me this—

. My judgment, be assured, I shall not change.

. Would you in peril’s hour have vowed this ritual?

. Yes, had advised authority prescribed it.

. What think you Priam had done, were his this

triumph?

. On broidered robes he doubtless would have trod.
. Then let not human censure make thee ashamed.
. Yet mighty is the people’s murmuring voice.

. Who stirs no jealousy, neither is he envied.

.’Tis not a woman’s part to thirst for strife.

. The fortunate may yield victory with grace.

. Dost thou too deem this victory worth a contest?

. Yield; victor still, since vanquished willingly.

. Well, if it please thee, quick, let one unloose

My shoes, these insolent slaves beneath my feet;
Lest, as with these I walk the sacred purples,
Some evil glance should strike me from afar.
*Tis shame enough to waste our wealth by trampling
And spoiling silver-purchased tapestries.

Of that enough. This stranger damsel now
Receive with kindness. A gentle master wins
Approving glances from God’s distant eye.

And she, the chosen flower of our rich spoil,

The army’s gift, hath followed in my train.
Since then I am reduced herein to obey thee,

To the palace will I go trampling on purples.

THE AGAMEMNON

Ν , \ rf ,
χωρὶς ποδοψήστρων τε καὶ τῶν ποικίλων
κληδὼν ἀυτεῖ" καὶ τὸ μὴ κακῶς φρονεῖν

rn ‘ fal > , \ \
θεοῦ μέγιστον δῶρον. ὀλβίσαι δὲ χρὴ

/ , a) SS > -“ ,
βίον τελευτήσαντ᾽ ἐν εὐεστοῖ φίλῃ.

9 Ὸ» ε / > a. > \ > /
εἶπον τάδ᾽ ὡς πράσσοιμ᾽ ἂν εὐθαρσὴς ἐγώ.

. καὶ μὴν τόδ᾽ εἰπὲ μὴ παρὰ γνώμην ἐμοί.
. γνώμην μὲν ἴσθι μὴ διαφθεροῦντ᾽ ἐμέ.

ηὔξω θεοῖς δείσας ἂν ὧδ᾽ ἔρδειν τάδε;

Μ > / > 5S LAND » -“ /
εἴπερ TLS, εἰδώς γ᾽ εὖ, τόδ᾽ ἐξεῖπεν τέλος.

A ,
. τί δ᾽ ἂν δοκεῖ σοι Upiauos, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἤνυσεν;

2 / ΕΝ / a -“
ἐν ποικίλοις ἂν κάρτα μοι βῆναι δοκεῖ.

. μή νυν τὸν ἀνθρώπειον αἰδεσθῆς ψόγον.

φήμη γε μέντοι δημόθρους μέγα σθένει.
ὁ δ᾽ ἀφθόνητός γ᾽ οὐκ ἐπίζηλος πέλει.

οὔτοι γυναικός ἐστιν ἱμείρειν μάχης.

. τοῖς δ᾽ ὀλβίοις γε καὶ τὸ νικᾶσθαι πρέπει.

= \ \ / , Γ ’
Ὦ καὶ OV νικὴν τήνδε δήριος TLELS $;

r lal / ᾽ \ /
. πιθοῦ" κρατεῖς μέντοι παρείς γ᾽ ἑκὼν ἐμοί.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ σοι ταῦθ᾽, ὑπαί τις ἀρβύλας
λύοι τάχος, πρόδουλον ἔμβασιν ποδός,

\ “-“ / A | / a / a“
σὺν ταῖσδέ μ᾽ ἐμβαίνονθ᾽ arovpyéow θεῶν
μή τις πρόσωθεν ὄμματος βάλοι φθόνος.
πολλὴ γὰρ αἰδὼς δωματοφθορεῖν ποσὶν
φθείροντα πλοῦτον ἀργυρωνήτους θ᾽ ὑφάς.
τούτων μὲν οὕτω" τὴν ἕένην δὲ πρευμενῶς
τήνδ᾽ ἐσκόμιζε' τὸν κρατοῦντα μαλθακῶς
θεὸς πρόσωθεν εὐμενῶς προσδέρκεται.

ev \ fal / ? /
αὕτη δὲ πολλῶν χρημάτων ἐξαίρετον
ἄνθος, στρατοῦ δώρημ᾽, ἐμοὶ ξυνέσπετο.
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἀκούειν σοῦ κατέστραμμαι τάδε,

<p t ΄ / a
εἶμ᾽ ἐς δόμων μέλαθρα πορφύρας πατῶν.

480

485

490

495

500

505

510

Cl.

Ch.

Cl.

Ch.

Cl.

36 THE AGAMEMNON

There is the sea, (and who shall drain it dry?)
Breeding abundant purple, costly as silver,
Forever oozing fresh to dip robes in.

And of such, Heaven be thanked, good store, my king,
Is ours. This house knows naught of penury.

Full many a robe for trampling had J vowed,

Had the oracles enjoined it, when I sought

Some means to ransom home so dear a life.

Thou art the living root whence springs the foliage
That screens our house against the dog-star’s glare.
So thou returning to thy home and hearth
Betokenest warmth in winter’s midst returned.
And when Zeus from the unripe grape’s virginity
Matures wine, then like coolness in the house

Is the advent of the crowned and perfect lord.

[As AGAMEMNON goes 1n.]

Zeus, Zeus, who crownest all, crown now my prayers!
Thereafter as thou wilt mayst thou dispose.

[CLYTAEMNESTRA follows AGAMEMNON, but
immediately returns.}

Thou too, get thee within, Kassandra, thou.

To thee she speaks, plain words, and pauses for thee.
Snared as thou art within the toils of fate,

If so thou canst, yield; or perchance thou canst not.
Nay, unless her speech be like a twittering swallow’s,
Some barbarous, unintelligible tongue,

She will understand my reasoning and obey.

Go with her. As things stand, she counsels best.

I have no leisure to stand trifling here

Outside, when round the central hearth already

Κλ.

Χο,

Κλ.

THE AGAMEMNON 37

ἔστιν θάλασσα, Tis δέ νιν κατασβέσει;
, a / > /

τρέφουσα πολλῆς πορφύρας ἰσάργυρον
KnKioa παγκαίνιστον, εἱμάτων βαφάς.

ce te eas / a \ - Μ
οἶκος δ᾽ ὑπάρχει τῶνδε σὺν θεοῖς, ἀναξ,
ἔχειν" πένεσθαι δ᾽ οὐκ ἐπίσταται δόμος. 515
πολλῶν πατησμὸν δ᾽ εἱμάτων ἂν ηὐξάμην,
δόμοισι προυνεχθέντος ἐν χρηστηρίοις,
ψυχῆς κόμιστρα τῆσδε μηχανωμένῃ.

es \ yy \ “ ὅν /
ῥίζης yap οὔσης φυλλὰς ἵκετ᾽ ἐς δόμους,
σκιὰν ὑπερτείνασα σειρίου κυνός. 520
καὶ σοῦ μολόντος δωματῖτιν ἑστίαν,
θάλπος μὲν ἐν χειμῶνι σημαίνεις μολών"
“ \ / “\ > aE! an
ὅταν δὲ τεύχῃ Ζεὺς ἀπ᾽ ὄμφακος πικρᾶς

> LES SS, a > / /
οἶνον, TOT ἤδη ψῦχος ἐν δόμοις πέλει,

> Ν / a 5 > »

ἀνδρὸς τελείου δῶμ᾽ ἐπιστρωφωμένου. 525

[As AGAMEMNON goes in.]

fal fal / /
Ζεῦ Led τέλειε, τὰς ἐμὰς εὐχὰς τέλει"

ῃ ΄ a 3 a
μέλοι δέ τοι σοὶ τῶνπερ ἂν μέλλῃς τελεῖν.

[CLYTAEMNESTRA follows AGAMEMNON, but
ummediately returns. |

fe
εἴσω κομίζου καὶ σύ, Kacdvépayr λέγω.
σοΐ τοι λέγουσα παύεται σαφῆ λόγον.
᾿] an /

ἐντὸς δ᾽ ἁλοῦσα μορσίμων ἀγρευμάτων 530

/ 9 ” » / ’ > Vd OE
πείθοι᾽ av, εἰ πείθοι" ἀπειθοίης δ᾽ ἴσως.
ἀλλ᾽ εἴπερ ἐστὶ μὴ χελιδόνος δίκην
, a \ / ΄
αγνώτα φωνὴν βάρβαρον κεκτημένη,
"᾿ a / / f
ἔσω φρενῶν λέγουσα πείθω νιν λόγῳ.
ἕπου. τὰ λῷστα τῶν παρεστώτων λέγει. 535
οὔτοι θυραίᾳ τῇδ᾽ ἐμοὶ σχολὴ πάρα

pare THO ἐμοῦ σχολῇ Tap

, \ \ \ ς ΄ /

τρίβειν: Ta μὲν yap ἑστίας μεσομφάλου

Ch:

38 THE AGAMEMNON

The victims wait the sacrifice of fire.
No more will I waste words to be so served.

[Exit CLYTAEMNESTRA. |
And I, for I feel pity, will not chide.

KASSANDRA

Otototoi O Earth! Earth!
O Apollo! O Apollo!

. Why upon Loxias callest thou thus woefully?

He is not one who needeth dirgelike litanies.

. Otototoi O Earth! Earth!

O Apollo! O Apollo!

. Once more with ill-omened cries she calls that God

Whose ears by lamentations are profaned.

. Apollo! Apollo!

God of Ways, Apollo indeed to me!
For me thou hast this second time in truth destroyed.

- Of her own woes it seems that she will prophesy.

Heaven still inspires her mind, a slave’s though it be.

. Apollo! Apollo!

God of Ways, Apollo indeed to me!
Ah whither hast thou led me? yea, to what abode?

- The Atreidae’s palace. If thou knowest not that,

Take my assurance: thou shalt not find it false.

. Nay, ’tis abhorred of Heaven: much is it privy to,

Unnatural murders and butcheries,
A human shambles, sprinkled are the floors with blood.

- Keen as a hound upon the scent she seems.

This trail shall lead her soon where murder lies.

- There are the witnesses—there am I certified!

THE AGAMEMNON 39

ἕστηκεν ἤδη μῆλα πρὸς σφαγὰς πυρός.
οὐ μὴν πλέω ῥίψασ᾽ ἀτιμασθήσομαι.

[Exit CLYTAEMNESTRA. |

a > \ ’ 5 / , , ,
Χο. ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἐποικτείρω γάρ, οὐ θυμώσομαι. 540
ΚΑΣΑΝΔΡΑ
OTOTOTOL πόποι δᾶ. [στρ. α.

Χο.

Κα.

Xo.

Ka.

> >
ὦπολλον ὠπολλον.
, rn ,’ » , ‘
τί ταῦτ᾽ ἀνωτότυξας ἀμφὶ Λοξίου ;
> \ a a A
οὐ γὰρ τοιοῦτος ὥστε θρηνητοῦ τυχεῖν.

Ξ a ‘ nr ,
OTOTOTOL πόποι Oa. [αὖτ a. 545
ὦπολλον ὦπολλον.
ἡ δ᾽ αὖτε δυσφημοῦσα τὸν θεὸν καλεῖ
f lal
οὐδὲν προσήκοντ᾽ ἐν γόοις παραστατεῖν.
Ui
Απολλον "Απολλον [στρ. B.
> an? > / > 4
ἀγυιᾶτ ἀποόλλων εμοὸς. 550
» , \ > / \ /
ἀπώλεσας yap ov μόλις TO δεύτερον.

/ » δ Ν “ ε fol lal
Xo. χρήσειν ἔοικεν ἀμφὶ TOV αὑτῆς κακῶν.

Κα.

Xo.

Ka.

/ XN a / ? /
μένει TO θεῖον δουλίᾳ περ ἐν φρενί.

"Ἄπολλον Ἄπολλον [ἀντ. β.
> ra tale > / > /
ἀγυιᾶτ ἀπόλλων ἐμος. 55

lal 3 \ / 7

ὦ ποῖ ποτ᾽ ἤγαγές με; πρὸς ποίαν στέγην;
\ \ 3 lal 5, \ \ ‘Or 9 a.
πρὸς τὴν ᾿Ατρειδῶν" εἰ σὺ μὴ τόδ᾽ ἐννοεῖς,
fs P > fal 4

ἐγὼ λέγω σδι" Kal τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἐρεῖς WON.

/ \ i \ /
μισόθεον μὲν οὖν, πολλὰ συνίστορα [στρ. ¥.

\ Yi

αὐτοφόνα κακὰ καὶ ἄρταμα, 560
> -“ \ / « /
ἀνδροσφαγεῖον καὶ πέδον ῥαντήριον.
», BA ες / \ OL
ἔοικεν εὔρις ἡ ξένη κυνὸς δίκην
5 4 γ ϑ > / /
εἶναι, watever δ᾽ ὧν ἀνευρήσει φόνον.

7. \ a vs) / >
μαρτυρίοισι yap τοῖσδ᾽ ἐπιπείθομαι" [ἀντ. γ.

CRs

Ch.

Tg,

Ch.

40 THE AGAMEMNON

Babes yonder bewailing their sacrifice!

Wailing their flesh by a father roasted and devoured!
We were acquainted with thy mantic fame:

But of these things we seek no prophet here.

. Alas! Ye Gods! What is she purposing?

What is this new and monstrous deed,

This deed of woe she purposes within this house,
Beyond love’s enduring,

Beyond cure? and aloof stands

Succouring strength afar.

I know not what these prophesyings mean.

The first I guessed: with them the whole city is loud.

- Oh cruel, cruel! Verily wilt thou so?

Him who hath shared thy nuptial bed,

When thou hast laved and cleansed him—how shall
Apace, see, the deed nears! [I tell the end?
With a swift reach she shoots forth

Murderous hand upon hand.

Not yet do I understand. Dark riddles first,
Dim-visioned oracles perplex me now.

Ey! Ey! Papai, papai!

What is this now I see?

Some net of death ’tis surely? [the crime
But she’s the snare, who shared the bed, who shares
Of blood. Let Strife, ravening against the race,
Utter a jubilant cry

O’er the abhorred sacrifice.

What fiend is this thou bidst lift o’er the house

A cry of triumph? Thy words bring me no cheer.
Back to my heart the drops yellow and pale have run,
As whén 0’er the face of one fallen in fight

Xo.

Ka.

THE AGAMEMNON 41

κλαιόμενα τάδε βρέφη σφαγάς, 565
ὀπτάς τε σάρκας πρὸς πατρὸς βεβρωμένας.
ἦμεν κλέος σοῦ μαντικὸν πεπυσμένοι"

΄ 5
τούτων προφήτας δ᾽ οὔτινας ματεύομεν.

Xv / / /
ἰὼ πόποι, TL ποτε μήδεται; [στρ. ὃ.
/ / / ” /
τί τόδε νέον ἄχος μέγα 570
fats / lal / \
μέγ᾽ ἐν δόμοισι τοῖσδε μήδεται κακὸν
Μ
ἄφερτον φίλοισιν, δυσίατον ; ἀλκὰ δ᾽
ἑκὰς ἀποστατεῖ.
» ” , > a y
τούτων ἄιδρίς εἰμι TOV μαντευμάτων.
ἐκεῖνα δ᾽ ἔγνων: πᾶσα γὰρ πόλις βοᾷ 575
me Dede Sees ἢ
/ a
ἰὼ τάλαινα, τόδε γὰρ τελεῖς, [ἀντ. 6.
Ν 6 / /
TOV ὁμοδέμνιον πόσιν
tal / lal
λουτροῖσι φαιδρύνασα---πῶς φράσω τέλος;
/ \ ‘DO ν / \ \ > >’
τάχος yap τόδ᾽ ἔσται" προτείνει δὲ Yelp ἐκ
\ > /
χερὸς ὀρεγμέναν. 580
” na 4 \ 2 2 /
οὔπω ξυνῆκα: νῦν yap ἐξ αἰνιγμάτων
> / / 5 lal
ἐπαργέμοισι θεσφάτοις ἀμηχανῶ.

», lal

Ἂ a / / /

é ἔ, παπαῖ παπαῖ, Ti τόδε φαίνεται; [στρ. ε.

ἢ δίκτυόν τί γ᾽ “Αἰδου;

ἀλλ᾽ ἄρκυς ἡ ξύνευνος, ἡ ξυναιτία 585
/ 4 > 4 / /

φόνου. στάσις δ᾽ ἀκόρετος γένει

κατολολυξάτω θύματος λευσίμου.

ποίαν ᾿ρινὺν τήνδε δώμασιν κέλει

ἐπορθιάζειν; οὔ με φαιδρύνει λόγος.

ἐπὶ δὲ καρδίαν ἔδραμε κροκοβαφὴς 590

/ Ul \ \ 7
σταγών, ἅτε καὶ δορὶ πτωσίμοις

Ka.

Ch.

42 THE AGAMEMNON

Pallor of death is spread
Timed with life’s sinking rays;
And the end neareth swift.

Ah! Ah! Beware! Beware!

From his accursed mate

Keep far the bull. In vestments

She entangles him, and with her black and crafty horn
Gores him. He falls into the cauldron’s steam,
Treacherous murdering bath,

Thus thy dark story is told.

I cannot boast to be a skilful judge

Of oracles; but ’tis woe I spell from these.

When from a prophet’s mouth ever to mortal ears
Have good tidings sped? ’Tis naught else but woe
Volubly chanted forth,

Teaching fear, fear alone,

In skilled monotone.

. Alas, alas! What hapless sorrowful doom is mine!

For of my own sad fate, mingled with his, I tell.

Ah whither hast thou brought me now, the hapless
one? [else?

For naught save only to share death with thee? What

Frenzied and heaven-possessed, ever thine own

In wild, lawless strains {despair

Thou art uttering, even as doth heart-sore,

Never with wailing satiate,

Some brown nightingale.

Ityn, Ityn she sighs, mourning in anguish all

Her woe-plenished life.

. Alas, alas! The doom of the musical nightingale!

For with a winged and soft-featheréd form the Gods

THE AGAMEMNON 43

4 la 4 > "» cal
ξυνανύτει βίου δύντος αὐγαῖς. ταχεῖ-

α δ᾽ ἄτα πέλει.

ἂ ἄ, ἰδοὺ ἰδού: ἄπεχε τῆς βοὸς [ἀντ. ε.
τὸν ταῦρον" ἐν πέπλοισι 595
μελαγκέρῳ λαβοῦσα μηχανήματι
,ὔ / >, τα > , /
τύπτει" πίτνει δ᾽ ἐν ἐνύδρῳ κύτει.
/ ΄
δολοφόνου λέβητος τύχαν σοι λέγω.
> 7 3... / Ul A
ov κομπάσαιμ᾽ ἂν θεσφάτων γνώμων ἄκρος
εἶναι, κακῷ δέ τῳ προσεικάζω τάδε. 600
ἀπὸ δὲ θεσφάτων τίς ἀγαθὰ φάτις
“ 7 nr Ἂν \
βροτοῖς στέλλεται; κακῶν yap διαὶ
πολυεπεῖς τέχναι θεσπιῳδὸν φόβον

φέρουσιν μαθεῖν.

᾿ ἘΝ >\ / / /
ἰὼ ἰὼ ταλαίνας KAKOTOTMOL τύχαι" [orp. ἃ.

τὸ γὰρ ἐμὸν θροῶ πάθος ἐπεγχύδαν. 606
”

mot δή με δεῦρο τὴν τάλαιναν ἤγαγες ;

> , ᾽ > \ / / /
οὐδέν ποτ᾽ εἰ μὴ ξυνθανουμένην. τί yap;

Χο. φρενομανής τις εἶ θεοφόρητος, ἀμ-

φὶ δ᾽ αὑτᾶς θροεῖς 610
/ ” es θὰ

νόμον ἄνομον, οἷά τις ξουθὰ

ἀκόρετος βοᾶς, φεῦ, ταλαίναις φρεσὶν

Ἴτυν “Ituv στένουσ᾽ ἀμφιθαλῆ κακοῖς

ἀηδὼν βίον.

ἰὼ ἰὼ λυγείας μόρον ἀηδόνος" [ἄντ. ζ.

περίβαλόν γε οἱ πτεροφόρον δέμας 616

Ch.

Ka.

Ch.

44 THE AGAMEMNON

Arrayed her, a gentle suffering a tearless change.

But me awaits the cleaving of a two-edged blade.

Agony fierce and vain, passionate mantic throes,

Oh whénce hast thou these,

Such a terrible chant in wild harsh cries

Fashioning forth, yet clear-voiced

In loud rhythmic strains?

What may it be that thus guides and inspires thy word

On its ill-boding path?

Lo now my oracle no more through a veil

Shall look forth dimly, like a bride new-wed;

But clear and strong towards the rising sun

Shall it come blowing, and before it roll

Wave-like against the light a woe than this

More huge. No longer in riddles will I monish you.

This house is ever haunted by a quire

Of hideous concord, for the song is foul.

Lo, drunken with human blood till they wax bold

And insolent, they abide within, a rout,

Hard to expel, of revelling kindred fiends.

They infest the chamber-doors chanting their chant

Of that first sin: anon they execrate

The abhorred defiler of a brother’s bed.

Say, have I missed, or was my shaft aimed ‘home?

Or am I a false seer, a prating vagabond?

Bear witness with an oath that well I know

The ancient tale of the sins of this house.

How should an oath, though ne’er so truly plighted,

Bring remedy? But I much admire that thou,

Though bred beyond the sea, shouldst speak as cer-
tainly [there.

Of a strange land as though thou hadst sojourned

Xo.

THE AGAMEMNON

Ν / clo) lal / »
θεοὶ γλυκύν T ἀγῶνα κλαυμάτων ἄτερ"
> \ \ , x ’ / /
ἐμοὶ δὲ μίμνει σχισμὸς ἀμφήκει δορί.

, > / / a
πόθεν ἐπισσύτους θεοφόρους τ᾽ ἔχεις

ὔ ys

ματαίους dvas,

τ 5. ΄, a
τὰ δ᾽ ἐπίφοβα δυσφάτῳ κλαγγᾷ

r Ὁ -“

μελοτυπεῖς ὁμοῦ T ὀρθίοις ἐν νόμοις ;

/ “ ΝΜ / ς a
πόθεν ὅρους ἔχεις θεσπεσίας ὁδοῦ
κακορρήμονας ;

΄
καὶ μὴν ὁ χρησμὸς οὐκέτ᾽ ἐκ καλυμμάτων
» \ ‘ / /
ἔσται δεδορκὼς νεογάμου νύμφης δίκην"

\ ἜΗΝ, e / \ > \
λαμπρὸς δ᾽ ἔοικεν ἡλίου πρὸς ἀντολὰς
πνέων ἐσάξειν, ὥστε κύματος δίκην

/ \ > \ la) / \
κλύζειν πρὸς αὐγὰς τοῦδε πήματος πολὺ

“Ὁ i ’ > LAF b] ’ Ul
μεῖζον: φρενώσω δ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ ἐξ αἰνιγμάτων.

\ \ LA / δ᾽ A 1 δ / \
τὴν yap στέγην THVO οὔποτ ἐκλείπει χορὸς

σύμφθογγος οὐκ εὔφωνος" οὐ γὰρ εὖ λέγει.

\ \ / ? . / /
καὶ μὴν πεπωκώς γ᾽, ὡς θρασύνεσθαι πλέον,

βρότειον αἷμα κῶμος ἐν δόμοις μένει,
δύσπεμπτος ἔξω, συγγόνων ᾿᾿ὡ)ρινύων.
ὑμνοῦσι δ᾽ ὕμνον δώμασιν προσήμεναι
πρώταρχον ἄτην" ἐν μέρει δ᾽ ἀπέπτυσαν
εὐνὰς ἀδελφοῦ τῷ πατοῦντι δυσμενεῖς.
ἥμαρτον, ἢ θηρῶ τι τοξότης τις ὥς;

ἢ ψευδόμαντίς εἰμι θυροκόπος φλέδων ;
ἐκμαρτύρησον προυμόσας τό μ᾽ εἰδέναι
λόγῳ παλαιὰς τῶνδ᾽ ἁμαρτίας δόμων.

καὶ πῶς ἂν ὅρκος, πῆγμα γενναίως παγέν,
παιώνιος γένοιτο; θαυμάζω δέ σε

πόντου πέραν τραφεῖσαν ἀλλόθρουν πόλιν
κυρεῖν λέγουσαν, ὥσπερ εἰ παρεστάτεις.

620

625

630

635

640

645

46 THE AGAMEMNON

. The seer Apollo endowed me with this skill.

. Smitten with love perchance, God though he be?

. Hitherto shame forbade me to confess it.

- Yes, we are all more delicate in prosperity.

. Vehement and mighty was the love he breathed.

. And in due course came you to child-bearing?

. I gave consent, then kept not faith with Loxias.

. Already wast thou possessed by power of prophecy?
. Already Troy’s whole agony I foretold.

. How then! Couldst thou escape the wrath of Loxias?
. None would believe my words: so was I punished.

. Yet to us thy words seem worthy of belief.

. Τοῦ ! Ioi! Oh agony!

Again dire pangs of clear vision whirl

And raok my soul with awful preludings.

Behold them there, sitting before the house,

Young children, like to phantom shapes in dream!
Boys slain by their own kindred they appear.
Their hands are filled with flesh, yea ’tis their own.
The heart, the inward parts, see, they are holding,
(Oh piteous burden,) whereof their father tasted.
For this, I tell you, vengeance is devised

By a recreant lion who lurking in the bed

Keeps watch, ah me! for the returning lord;

My lord; for the slave’s yoke I must endure.

The fleet’s high captain, Ilium’s ravager,

He knows not what the abhorred she-hound’s tongue
After long-drawn fawning welcome—what accurst
Treacherous stroke she aims with deadly stealth.

O wickedness horrible! Of her lord the wife

Ka.
Xo.
Ka.
Xo.
Ka.

THE AGAMEMNON 47

/ 2 Pe) -
μάντις μ᾽ ᾿Απόλλων τῷδ᾽ ἐπέστησεν τέλει.
al \ , e ,ὔ
μῶν καὶ θεός περ ἱμέρῳ πεπληγμένος ;
a \ > \ > 5 \ / /
προτοῦ μὲν αἰδὼς ἦν ἐμοὶ λέγειν τάδε.
« ͵ \ A > , ,
ἀἁβρύνεται γὰρ πᾶς τις εὖ πράσσων πλέον. 650
> DD \ / + ae } \ ΄ ,
ἄλλ HV παλαιστὴς κάρτ᾽ ἐμοὶ πνέων χάριν.
x \ / bd v ’ / /
ἢ καὶ τέκνων εἰς ἔργον ἠλθέτην νόμῳ ;
/
ξυναινέσασα Λοξίαν ἐψευσάμην.
» f > / € /
ἤδη τέχναισιν ἐνθέοις ἡρημένη ;
ἤδη πολίταις πάντ᾽ ἐθέσπιζον πάθη. 655
lal a 7 3
πῶς δῆτ᾽; avatos ἦσθα Λοξίου κότῳ;
/,
ἔπειθον οὐδέν᾽ οὐδέν, ὡς τάδ᾽ ἤμπλακον.
δὲς ᾽ν \ \ \ / “
ἡμῖν γε μὲν δὴ πιστὰ θεσπίζειν δοκεῖς.
ey Ὁ .8 , wn a U
lov ἰού, ὦ ὦ Kaka.
Ἐφ 55 3 \ 5) ͵ ,
ὑπ᾽ αὖ με δεινὸς ὀρθομαντείας πόνος 660
-“ FF / /
στροβεῖ ταράσσων φροιμίοις δυσφροιμίοις.
e an \ t
ὁρᾶτε τούσδε τοὺς δόμοις ἐφημένους
νέους, ὀνείρων προσφερεῖς μορφώμασι;
a a % lal ,
παῖδες θανόντες ὡσπερεὶ πρὸς τῶν φίλων,
- rn / > / rn A =
χεῖρας κρεῶν πλήθοντες οἰκείας βορᾶς, 665
\ , ,
σὺν ἐντέροις τε σπλάγχν᾽, ἐποίκτιστον γέμος,
/ > ce \ 5
πρέπουσ᾽ ἔχοντες, ὧν πατὴρ ἐγεύσατο.
οἱ lal / fi \
ἐκ τῶνδε ποινάς φημι βουλεύειν τινὰ
/ ΓΜ > / ,
λέοντ ἀναλκιν ἐν λέχει στρωφώμενον
οἰκουρόν, οἴμοι, τῷ μολόντι δεσπότῃ 670
2 fal f \ \ \ / /
ἐμῷ: φέρειν yap χρὴ τὸ δούλιον ζυγόν"
νεῶν δ᾽ ἔπαρχος ᾿Ιλίου 7 ἀναστάτης
τ tA “- rn \
οὐκ οἶδεν οἵα γλῶσσα μισητῆς κυνὸς
/ ’ / /
λέξασα κἀκτείνασα φαιδρόνους, δίκην
” / , al t
ἄτης λαθραίου, τεύξεται κακῇ τύχῃ. 675
an / a ” \
τοιᾷδε τόλμῃ θῆλυς ἄρσενος φονεὺς

Ch.

48 THE AGAMEMNON

Is murderess. By what loathsome monster’s name
Should I describe her fitly? An amphisbaena?

Or some cliff-lairing Scylla, bane of mariners,

A raging demon mother, breathing havoc

Against her dearest? And how she cried in triumph,
The all-shameless fiend, as when a battle breaks,
Feigning to glory in his safe return!

Herein though I gain no credence, ’tis all one.
What must be, shall be; and thou beholding soon
Shalt call me in pity a prophet all too true.
Thyestes’ banquet of his own children’s flesh
Shuddering I understood. Yea horror seized me
Hearing the true tale without fabling told.

But in all else I wander far astray.

. Agamemnon’s death I say thou shalt behold.

. Peace, wretched woman! Hush thy ill-omened lips.
. This word no Healing God can remedy.

. Not if it must be so: but Heaven avert it!

. While thou prayest, the slayers are making ready.

. What man is the contriver of this woe?
. Wide indeed of my warning must thou have looked.
. For I perceive not how the deed is possible.

. See now, I know the Greek tongue all too well.

. So doth the Pythoness: yet her words are dark.

. Papai! What is this fire! It surges upon me!

Ototoi! Lycean Apollo! Ay me, me!

Yonder two-footed lioness, who shares

The wolf’s couch, while the noble lion is far,

Shall slay me, hapless woman. A vengeful charm
She is brewing, and therein will mix my recompense.

THE AGAMEMNON 49

ἔστιν. τί νιν καλοῦσα δυσφιλὲς δάκος
τύχοιμ᾽ ἄν; ἀμφίσβαιναν, ἢ Σκύλλαν τινὰ

> an > a ‘ /
οἰκοῦσαν ἐν πέτραισι, ναυτίλων βλάβην,

Aa “ 33) τον ἊΝ τὰν
θύουσαν “Αιδου μητέρ᾽ ἄσπονδόν τ᾽ ἄρην 680

, ΄ ᾽
φίλοις πνέουσαν; ὡς δ᾽ ἐπωλολύξατο
ἡ παντότολμος, ὥσπερ ἐν μάχης τροπῇ.

-" ‘ / i
δοκεῖ δὲ χαίρειν νοστίμῳ σωτηρίᾳ.
lal Ὁ ἫΝ /

καὶ τῶνδ᾽ ὅμοιον εἴ TL μὴ πείθω: τί γάρ;

\ fh “ \ ΄ δ᾿ ΤΥ / ms
TO μέλλον HEE. καὶ σύ μ᾽ ἐν τάχει παρὼν 685
ἄγαν γ᾽ ἀληθόμαντιν οἰκτείρας ἐρεῖς.

\ \ , a , A
τὴν μὲν Θυέστου δαῖτα παιδείων κρεῶν

-“ \ / \ / > w
ξυνῆκα καὶ πέφρικα, Kai φόβος μ᾽ ἔχει
/ fal \ ΄

κλύοντ᾽ ἀληθῶς οὐδὲν ἐξηκασμένα.

\ 5 ΨΝ + eee) 4 > / \ 73
τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἀκούσας ἐκ δρόμου πεσὼν τρέχω. 690

Κα. ᾿Αγαμέμνονός σέ φημ᾽ ἐπόψεσθαι μόρον.

” πὰ + / ΄
εὔφημον, ὦ τάλαινα, κοίμησον στόμα.
2 cal r
ἀλλ᾽ οὔτι ἸΠαιὼν τῷδ᾽ ἐπιστατεῖ λόγῳ.
» Μ » > > ἣ ‘ if ,
OUK, εἴπερ ἔσται Y* ἀλλὰ μὴ γένοιτο πως.
\ \ / r > > , /
σὺ μὲν κατεύχει, τοῖς δ᾽ ἀποκτείνειν μέλει. 605
\ \ “
τίνος πρὸς ἀνδρὸς τοῦτ᾽ ἄχος πορσύνεται;
τ Ψ na a
ἢ κάρτα Tap ἂν παρεκόπης χρησμῶν ἐμῶν.
τοῦ γὰρ τελοῦντος οὐ ξυνῆκα μηχανήν.
26 7,
καὶ μὴν ἄγαν γ᾽ “Ἑλλην᾽ ἐπίσταμαι φάτιν.
\ \ \ / n 3 ef
Kal yap Ta πυθόκραντα" δυσμαθῆ δ᾽ ὅμως. 700
a fal /
παπαῖ, οἷον τὸ πῦρ' ἐπέρχεται δέ μοι.
> cal PS. > > >
ototot, Λύκει᾽ "Άλπολλον, ot ἐγὼ ἐγώ.
αὕτη δίπους λέαινα συγκοιμωμένη
λύκῳ, λέοντος εὐγενοῦς ἀπουσίᾳ,
a \ / ¢ \ /
KTEVEL με THY τάλαιναν" ws δὲ φάρμακον

a |
°
αι

4 lol /
τεύχουσα κἀμοῦ μισθὸν ἐνθήσει κότῳ

Α. 4

Ch.

50 THE AGAMEMNON

Sharpening her man-slaying sword, she vows
Bloodily to repay my bringing hither.

Why then to my own derision bear I these—
This wand, these mantic fillets round my neck?
Thee at least, ere I perish, will I destroy.

Down to the ground I cast you, and thus requite you.
Enrich some other, as ye did me, with doom.

But lo, Apollo himself strips off from me,

My prophet’s robe, now the spectacle grows stale
Of his victim in these vestments laughed to scorn
By friends and foes alike, and all in vain—

And like a vagabond mountebank such names

As beggar, wretch or starveling I endured—

And now this seer, being finished with my seership,
Has brought me to be murdered in this place,
Where awaiteth me no altar of my home,

But a block whereon the last blood yet is warm.
Yet not forgotten of Heaven shall we die.

There shall come one to vindicate us, born

To slay his mother and avenge his sire.

A wandering homeless outlaw shall he return

To cope the fabric of ancestral sin.

For with a mighty oath the Gods have sworn,
His father’s outstretched corpse shall draw him home.
Why then do I stand thus wailing piteously?

I will meet my fate: I will endure to die.

These gates, as they were Hades’ gates, I hail
And that the stroke be mortal is my prayer:

So swiftly and easily shall my blood gush forth,
And without struggle shall I close my eyes.
Woman, so hapless, yet withal so wise,

Long hast thou held us listening; yet if verily

THE AGAMEMNON

> / ΄ὔ \ /
κἀπεύχεται θήγουσα φωτὶ φάσγανον
an an 7ὔ /
ἐμῆς ἀγωγῆς ἀντιτίσασθαι φόνον.
/ ripe a ) a UA ἍΣ Ἂν ΄
τί δῆτ᾽ ἐμαυτῆς καταγέλωτ᾽ ἔχω τάδε,
καὶ σκῆπτρα καὶ μαντεῖα περὶ δέρῃ στέφη;
\ \ fol “- fal
σὲ μὲν TPO μοίρας τῆς ἐμῆς διαφθερῶ.
’ “4 vs
ἴτ᾽ ἐς φθόρον: πεσόντα θ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἀμείψομαι.
" 2). OF 2 hg 3. “ /
ἄλλην TW ἄτης ἀντ᾽ ἐμοῦ πλουτίζετε.
΄ \
ἰδοὺ δ᾽ ᾿Απόλλων αὐτὸς ἐκδύων ἐμὲ
χρηστηρίαν ἐσθῆτ᾽, ἐποπτεύσας δέ με
- /
κἀν τοῖσδε κόσμοις καταγελωμένην μέγα
,ὔ ΠΝ ΤΣ A > , ΄
φίλων ὑπ᾽ ἐχθρῶν οὐ διχορρόπως, μάτην---
δὰ \ id ᾽ /
καλουμένη δὲ Portas ὡς ἀγύρτρια
πτωχὸς τάλαινα λιμοθνὴς ἠνεσχόμην---
καὶ νῦν ὁ μάντις μάντιν ἐκπράξας ἐμὲ
/
ἀπήγαγ᾽ ἐς τοιάσδε θανασίμους τύχας.
n fy
βωμοῦ πατρῴου δ᾽ ἀντ᾽ ἐπίξηνον μένει,
/ /
θερμὸν κοπέντος φοινίῳ προσφάγματι.
» Α BA / time) fal ΄ /
ov μὴν ἄτιμοί γ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν τεθνήξομεν.
“ \ ς a ye 5 7
ἥξει γὰρ ἡμῶν ἄλλος αὖ τιμάορος,
/ / / /
μητροκτόνον φίτυμα, ποινάτωρ πατρός"
\ tee / fal a > /
φυγὰς δ᾽ ἀλήτης τῆσδε γῆς ἀπόξενος
΄ yA 4 / f
κάτεισιν, ἄτας τάσδε θριγκώσων φίλοις"
3 4, \ ae > an /
ὀμώμοται yap ὅρκος ἐκ θεῶν μέγας,
/ te
ἄξειν νιν ὑπτίασμα κειμένου πατρός.
σῷ. an
τί ONT ἐγὼ KATOLKTOS ὧδ᾽ ἀναστένω;
ἰοῦσα πράξω" τλήσομαι τὸ κατθανεῖν.
6 ,
“Αἰδου πύλας δὲ τάσδ᾽ ἐγὼ προσεννέπω"
VA an a
ἐπεύχομαι δὲ καιρίας πληγῆς τυχεῖν,
΄ e if
ὡς ἀσφάδαστος, αἱμάτων εὐθνησίμων
3 / ΕΣ / /
ἀπορρυέντων, ὄμμα συμβάλω τόδε.
\ 7 5 \
ὦ πολλὰ μὲν τάλαινα, πολλὰ δ᾽ ad σοφὴ
vA \ , > os ΄
γύναι, μακρὰν ἔτεινας. εἰ δ᾽ ἐτητύμως

4—2

Gps

715

720

730

“I
ῳ
ὧι

Ch.

52 THE AGAMEMNON

Thou knowest thine own doom, how, as some heaven-
led victim,

Patiently to the altar canst thou move?

. There is no escape, friends, none, when time is full.

. Yes, but time’s last hour still is found the best.

. The day is come. Little were gained by flight.

. Truly a patient fortitude is thine.

. Such praise none heareth to whom fate is kind.

. Yet is there comfort in a glorious death.

. Alas my father! thou and thy noble children!

. Why dost thou start? What terror turns thee back?
. Foul! Foul!

. Why criest thou foul? Is it some brainsick loathing?
. Horror this house exhales from blood-dript walls.

. Nay, nay, ‘tis naught but odours of hearth-sacrifice.
.’Tis such a reek as riseth from a sepulchre.

Yet will I enter, and there bewail my fate
And Agamemnon’s. I have lived long enough.
Alas, my friends!

I clamour not like a bird that dreads a bush
Idly. When I am dead confirm my words,
When another woman for my death shall die,
And. for a man ill-mated a man falls.

I claim this office as at point to die.

Poor wretch, I pity thy prophetic doom.

. Yet once more would I speak—or is not this

My own dirge rather? To the sun I pray,

This last seen by me, that when my champions come,
My foes may pay murder’s price for me too,

For this poor slave’s death, their inglorious prey.

THE AGAMEMNON 53

/ \ ig fal 4 fal vA
μόρον Tov αὑτῆς οἶσθα, πῶς θεηλάτου
\ Va \ \ / -
βοὸς δίκην πρὸς βωμὸν εὐτόλμως πατεῖς; 7490
οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἄλυξις, οὔ, ξένοι, χρόνον πλέω.
nw τῇ , A , ,
ὁ δ᾽ ὕστατός ye τοῦ χρόνου πρεσβεύεται.
“ EN Ὁ \ lal A
ἥκει TOO ἦμαρ’ σμικρὰ κερδανῷ φυγῇ.
a ͵
ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθι τλήμων οὖσ᾽ ἀπ᾽ εὐτόλμου φρενός.
᾽ \ > ΄ a a > ,
οὐδεὶς ἀκούει ταῦτα τῶν εὐδαιμόνων. 745
> fa) “-“ a
ἀλλ᾽ εὐκλεῶς τοι κατθανεῖν χάρις βροτῷ.
ἐὼ πάτερ σοῦ τῶν τε γενναίων τέκνων.
΄ῳ \ A , »» , ,
τί δ᾽ ἐστὶ χρῆμα; Tis σ᾽ ἀποστρέφει φόβος ;
φεῦ φεῦ.
, aS " \ a 4
τί τοῦτ᾽ ἔφευξας; εἴ TL μὴ φρενῶν στύγος. 750
/ / an
φόνον δόμοι πνέουσιν αἱματοσταγῆ.
lal 99 /
Kal TOS; TOO ὄζει θυμάτων ἐφεστίων.
ed > ἣν [7 > / /
ὅμοιος ATMOS ὥσπερ ἐκ τάφου πρέπει.
> > 4 > , , 9 05 ἐξ
ἀλλ᾽ εἶμι κἀν δόμοισι κωκύσουσ᾽ ἐμὴν
Ἂν / /, a > /
Ayapéuvovos Te μοῖραν. ἀρκείτω Bios. 755
ἰὼ ξένοι.
οὔτοι δυσοίζω θάμνον ὡς ὄρνις φόβῳ
ΝΜ ve Aen Ἢ ,
ἄλλως: θανούσῃ μαρτυρεῖτέ μοι τόδε,
Ν ’ la) ,
ὅταν γυνὴ γυναικὸς ἀντ᾽ ἐμοῦ θάνῃ,

93 / / ’ > > \ /,
ἀνήρ τε δυσδάμαρτος ἀντ᾽ ἀνδρὸς πέσῃ. 60

“I

ἐπιξενοῦμαι ταῦτα δ᾽ ὡς θανουμένη.

ὦ τλῆμον, οἰκτείρω σε θεσφάτου μόρου.

ἅπαξ ἔτ᾽ εἰπεῖν ῥῆσιν ἢ θρῆνον θέλω

> \ \ > lal τ ψ' tbe oe! 4

ἐμὸν τὸν αὐτῆς. ἡλίου δ᾽ ἐπεύχομαι

πρὸς ὕστατον φῶς τοῖς ἐμοῖς τιμαύροις 765
ἐχθροὺς φόνευσιν τοὺς ἐμοὺς τίνειν ὁμοῦ

δούλης θανούσης, εὐμαροῦς χειρώματος.

Cl.

54 _ THE AGAMEMNON

Alas for man’s estate! His happiness

Shows like a sketch, a shadow: but his misery—
’Tis a picture by a wet sponge dashed clean out.
And this is the more pitiable by far.

[Exit.]

. [within]. Ah me! I am smitten—to the heart, a

mortal stroke!

_ Silence! Who is that cries out as smitten by a

mortal wound?

.Ah me! Again! A second time, a murderous

stroke!

- Done is now the deed, I fear me. That is the death-

groan of the king.
Come let us consult, if haply some safe counsel we
may find.

. This is my counsel, that we summon hither

A rescue of the townsfolk to the palace.

. And I say, with all,speed let us burst in,

And prove the foul deed while the sword yet drips.

[As they are about to enter the palace, the scene opens
and discloses CLYTAEMNESTRA standing over the
bodies of AGAMEMNON and KASSANDRA.]

All that I spoke before to serve the time,

I shall feel no shame now to contradict.

For how by avowing open hate to enemies,
Presumed to be our friends, could we build up
Destruction’s toils too high to be overleapt?

By me long since against victory long-deferred
Was planned this duel, yet at last it came.

Here stand I where I struck, my work achieved.

THE AGAMEMNON 35
ἰὼ βρότεια πράγματ᾽" εὐτυχοῦντα μὲν

σκιά τις ἂν πρέψειεν" εἰ δὲ δυστυχῆ,

βολαῖς ὑγρώσσων σπόγγος ὦλεσεν γραφήν. 770
καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐκείνων μᾶλλον οἰκτείρω πολύ.

[Εχη.]

Αγ. ὦμοι, πέπληγμαι καιρίαν πληγὴν ἔσω.
Χο. σῖγα" τίς πληγὴν ἀυτεῖ καιρίως οὐτασμένος ;
Αγ. ὦμοι μάλ᾽ αὖθις, δευτέραν πεπληγμένος.

Xo.1. τοὔργον εἰργάσθαι δοκεῖ μοι βασιλέως οἰμώ-

γματι. 775
ἀλλὰ κοινωσώμεθ᾽ ἤν πως ἀσφαλῆ βουλεύματ᾽
=
De

» \ \ e a \ τ \ ΄ / 9
2. ἐγὼ μὲν ὑμῖν τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην λέγω,
Ν lal fal > al /
πρὸς δῶμα δεῦρ᾽ ἀστοῖσι κηρύσσειν Bonv.—
> \ 35. ὦ ΄ U 3. 5 lal nq
3. ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ὅπως τάχιστά γ᾽ ἐμπεσεῖν δοκεῖ
Ν a ce eee \ / /
Kal πρᾶγμ᾽ ἐλέγχειν σὺν νεορρύτῳ ξίφει.--- 780

[As they are about to enter the palace, the scene opens
and discloses CLYTAEMNESTRA standing over the
bodies of AGAMEMNON and KASSANDRA.]

lal / 2
Κλ. πολλῶν πάροιθεν καιρίως εἰρημένων
τἀναντί᾽ εἰπεῖν οὐκ ἐπαισχυνθήσομαι.
lal ‘ > Lal > Ν / /
πῶς yap τις ἐχθροῖς ἐχθρὰ πορσύνων, φίλοις
r nr >} / Ji NN
δοκοῦσιν εἶναι, πημονῆς ἀαρκύστατ ἂν
, ef “ > /
φράξειεν, ὕψος κρεῖσσον ἐκπηδήματος ; 785
3 \ 2 aN “Ὁ ᾽ > ͵ A
ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ἀγὼν ὅδ᾽ οὐκ ἀφρόντιστος πάλαι
7, a 3 \ / /
νείκης παλαιᾶς ἦλθε, σὺν χρόνῳ γε μὴν"
a > eg eae ree Je) /
ἕστηκα δ᾽ ἔνθ᾽ ἔπαισ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἐξειργασμένοις.

Ch.

Cl.

Ch:

Cl.

56 THE AGAMEMNON

Even so I wrought—this too will I not deny—

That neither should he escape nor ward his doom.

A blind entanglement, like a net for fish,

I swathe around him, an evil wealth of robe.

And twice do I smite him, till at the second groan

There did his limbs sink down; and as he lies,

A third stroke do I deal him, unto Hades,

Safe-keeper of dead men, a votive gift.

Therewith he lies still, gasping out his life:

And spouting forth a vehement jet of blood

Strikes me with a dark splash of murderous dew,

No less rejoicing than in Heaven’s sweet rain

The corn doth at the birth-throes of the ear.

The truth being such, ye grave elders of Argos,

Rejoice, if soyye may; but I exult.

We marvel at thine audacity of tongue

To glory in such terms over thy slain lord.

Ye assail me as though I were a witless woman.

But I with heart unshaken what all know

Declare—whether thou praise me or condemn,

’Tis all one—this is Agamemnon, mine

Own husband, done to death by this right hand’s

Most righteous workmanship. The case stands so.

Woman, what earth-engendered

Venomous herb, or what evil drug,

Scum of the restless sea, canst thou have tasted of,

Thus to incur the loud fury of a people’s curse?

Away thou hast cast, away thou hast cleft, away shall
the city fling thee,

A monstrous burden of loathing.

Yes, now for me thou doomest banishment,

A city’s loathing and a people’s curses:

Κλ

THE AGAMEMNON

ef 3. .4Ὁ \ aw > , ,

οὕτω δ᾽ ἔπραξα, καὶ τάδ᾽ οὐκ ἀρνήσομαι"

» > 4

ὡς μήτε φεύγειν μήτ᾽ ἀμύνεσθαι μόρον,

ΝΜ > ’ v4 > 4

ἄπειρον ἀμφίβληστρον, ὥσπερ ἰχθύων,

περιστιχίζω, πλοῦτον εἵματος κακόν.

παίω δέ νιν δίς" κἀν δυοῖν οἰμώγμασιν

μεθῆκεν αὐτοῦ κῶλα: καὶ πεπτωκότι

΄, lal \

τρίτην ἐπενδίδωμι, τοῦ κατὰ χθονὸς

7 “ a ,

“Αἰδου νεκρῶν σωτῆρος εὐκταίαν χάριν.
la) / ,

οὕτω τὸν αὑτοῦ θυμὸν ὁρμαίνει πεσών"

? a b] - “ \
κακφυσιῶν ὀξεῖαν αἵματος σφαγὴν
βάλλει μ᾽ ἐρεμνῇ ψακάδι φοινίας δρόσου,

/ > ὃ \ e x ὃ
χαίρουσαν οὐδὲν ἧσσον ἢ διοσδότῳ
γάνει σπορητὸς κάλυκος ἐν λοχεύμασιν.
id eo 5] / / > , ‘
ὡς ὧδ᾽ ἐχόντων, πρέσβος ᾿Αργείων τόδε,

3 >

χαίροιτ᾽ av, εἰ χαίροιτ᾽, ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἐπεύχομαι.
θαυμαζομέν σου γλῶσσαν, ὡς θρασύστομος,
[4 , cede ok Sia \ t ,
ἥτις τοιόνδ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀνδρὶ κομπάζεις λόγον.
πειρᾶσθέ μου γυναικὸς ὡς ἀφράσμονος"
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀτρέστῳ καρδίᾳ πρὸς εἰδότα
Υ ρέστῳ καρδίᾳ πρὸς εἰ ς

/ ᾽ > ° fp
λέγω: σὺ δ᾽ αἰνεῖν εἴτε με ψέγειν θέλεις
ὅμοιον. οὗτός ἐστιν ᾿Αγαμέμνων, ἐμὸς

΄ Ν lol la)
πόσις, νεκρὸς δέ, τῆσδε δεξιᾶς χερὸς
v / / ‘OQ 7D wv
ἔργον, δικαίας τέκτονος. τάδ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἔχει.

790

800

805

810

, ' 3 , ¥ \ 2 \ x \
TL Κακὸν, ὦ γυναῦύ, χθονοτρεφὲς ἐδανὸν ) TTOTOV

͵ὕ « an > c \ ”
πασαμένα putas ἐξ ἁλὸς ὄρμενον
τόδ᾽ ἐπέθου θύος, δημοθρόους τ᾽ ἀράς;
se ree Che , > > 7 >»
ἀπέδικες T ἀπέταμές τ᾽" ἀπόπολις δ᾽ ἔσει

μῖσος ὄβριμον ἀστοῖς.

νῦν μὲν δικάζεις ἐκ πόλεως φυγὴν ἐμοὶ
καὶ μῖσος ἀστῶν δημόθρους τ᾽ ἔχειν ἀράς,

815

Ch.

CI.

Ch.

58 THE AGAMEMNON

Yet once no whit didst thou withstand this man,
Who recking not, as ’twere a beast that died,
Although his woolly flocks bare sheep enough,
Sacrificed his own child, that dear delight

Born of my pangs, to charm the winds of Thrace.

Insolent is thy mood,

Thine utterance arrogant. Therefore even

As with the deed of blood frenzied is now thy soul,
So doth a gory smear fitly adorn thy brow.

With none to avenge, none to befriend, verily yet shall
Stroke for stroke in reprisal. [you pay

This likewise shalt thou hear, my solemn oath:

By the Justice here accomplished for my child,
By the Sin and Doom, whose victim here I have slain,
Not for me doth Hope tread the halls of Fear,
While yet fire on my hearth is kindled by
Aegisthus, my kind friend as heretofore.

For yonder, no small shield for our assurance,
Lies low the man who outraged his own wife,
Darling of each Chryseis under Troy,

And by him this bond-slave and auguress,

His oracle-delivering concubine,

Who, as his faithful couch-mate, shared with him
The mariners’ bench. But punished are they now.
For he fare thus: and she, now she has wailed ©
Swan-like her last lamenting song of death,

Lies there, his lover, adding a delicate

New seasoning to the luxury of my couch.

Oh for a speedy death, painless without a throe,
No lingering bedridden sickness,
A gentle death, bearing sleep eternal,

Κλ.

Χο.

THE AGAMEMNON

5 - ’ rs
οὐδὲν TOT ἀνδρὶ τῷδ᾽ ἐναντίον φέρων"
a 7 “oe
ὃς οὐ προτιμῶν, ὡσπερεὶ βοτοῦ μόρον,
μήλων φλεόντων εὐπόκοις νομεύμασιν,
» « i - , > \
ἔθυσεν αὐτοῦ παῖδα. φιλτάτην ἐμοὶ
5α » > \ , > ,

@diy’, ἐπῳδὸν Θρῃκίων ἀημάτων.

μεγαλόμητις εἶ, περίφρονα δ᾽ ἔλακες - ὥσπερ οὗὖι

φονολιβεῖ τύχᾳ φρὴν ἐπιμαίνεται"
, , Ὁ“ ’
λίπος ἐπ᾿ ὀμμάτων αἵματος ἐμπρέπει"
ἂν 7 Ὧν. \ \ 4 ,
ἀτίετον δ᾽ ἔτι σὲ χρὴ στερομέναν φίλων
’ -
τύμμα τύμματι τῖσαι.

\ , τὸν ὦ , ς me er ;
Kai τήνδ᾽ ἀκούεις ὁρκίων ἐμῶν θέμιν"
\ \ ,. iol 5 -“ Ἁ ,
μὰ τὴν τέλειον τῆς ἐμῆς παιδὸς Δίκην,
> , > + 7
ἼἌτην Ἐρινύν θ᾽, αἷσι τόνδ᾽ ἔσφαξ᾽ ἐγώ,
οὔ μοι φόβου μέλαθρον ἐλπὶς ἐμπατεῖ.
4 x . Lot 94 ©€ , > A
ἕως ἂν αἴθη πῦρ ἐφ᾽ ἑστίας ἐμῆς
Αὔγισθος, ὡς τὸ πρόσθεν εὖ φρονῶν ἐμοί.
- A ,
οὗτος yap ἡμῖν ἀσπὶς ov σμικρὰ θράσους.
κεῖται γυναικὸς τῆσδε λυμαντήριος,
Χρυσηΐδων. μείλεγμα τῶν ὑπ᾽ Ἰλίῳ-
iT αἰχμάλωτος ἥδε καὶ τερασκόπος
καὶ κοινόλεκτρος τοῦδε, θεσφατηλόγος
πιστὴ ξύνευνος, ναυτίλων δὲ σελμάτων
> , Ν 2 > > ᾿
ἰσοτριβής. ἄτιμα δ᾽ οὐκ ἐπραξάτην.
ὁ μὲν γὰρ οὕτως, ἡ δέ τοι κύκνου δίκην
‘ “ , , ᾿
τὸν ὕστατον μέλψασα θανάσιμον γόον
- x , aS > \ δ᾽ > , ᾽
κεῖται φιλήτωρ τῷδ, ἐμοὶ ὃ ἐπήγαγει
» “« , ° > 7 td
εὐνῆς παροψώνημα τῆς ἐμῆς χλιδήν.

- , ΕῪ > 7 \ ᾽
φεῦ, τίς ἂν ἐν τάχει, μὴ περιώδυνος,
μηδὲ δεμνιοτήρης,

᾿ \ a “ἃ, id >. 2 e ΄--
μόλοι τὸν aei φέρουσ ἐν ἡμῖν

D
Oo
“ι

DY
he
7)

Cl.

Ch.

Cl.

60 THE AGAMEMNON

Sleep without end, for to us the kindest,
Truest of guardians is lost,

Who for a woman’s sin endured toils untold;
Yea, and by a woman’s hand he fell.

Demon, who o’er the house broodest, and o’er the twi-

Branching Tantalid offspring,

And through the wives, equals in destruction,
Wieldest a power, to my heart an anguish!
Now on the carcase like a loathed

Carrion crow perched he stands, and gloryingly
Chanting forth croaks his tuneless hymn.

Now thy judgment hast thou amended,

Since thou accusest

The thrice-gorged demon of this whole lineage.
For from him is bred this lust of the heart

For blood to be lapped—ere yet the old woe
Is over and gone, ever fresh gore.

Ay me! Ay me! My king, my king!

How shall I weep thee?

What word shall I speak from a loving heart?
In this spider’s web to be lying thus caught,
By a foul death gasping thy soul forth!

Ah me, me! couched thus shamefully like a slave,
Stricken down by a deadly hand

Craftily armed with a cleaving sword-blade!

Do you dare to avouch this deed to be mine?
Nay, fancy not even

That in me Agamemnon’s spouse you behold:
But disguised as the wife of the man who is slain
Yonder, the ancient wrathful Avenger

Of Atreus, that grim feaster, hath found

Κλ.

THE AGAMEMNON

a? /
Moip’ ἀτέλευτον ὕπνον, δαμέντος
΄,
φύλακος εὐμενεστάτου
/ ΄ Ν /
πολέα TAAVTOS γυναικὸς διαί;

Ν \ > > Τ᾿
πρὸς γυναικὸς δ᾽ ἀπέφθισεν.

a a > / ΄ \
δαῖμον, ὃς ἐμπίτνεις δώμασι Kal
διφυίοισι Τανταλίδαισιν,

/ cid / fal
κράτος T ἰσόψυχον ἐκ γυναικῶν

tA
καρδιόδηκτον ἐμοὶ κρατύνεις.
ἐπὶ δὲ σώματος δίκαν μοι

, a rn, Ν᾿
κόρακος ἐχθροῦ σταθεῖσ᾽ ἐκνόμως
ὕμνον ὑμνεῖν ἐπεύχεται.

“ > v / /
νῦν δ᾽ ὥρθωσας στόματος γνώμην,
τὸν τριπάχυντον

Ys L a
δαίμονα γέννης τῆσδε κικλήσκων.
> nr \ vy e \
ἐκ TOD γὰρ ἔρως αἱματολοιχὸς
νειριτροφεῖται, πρὶν καταλῆξαι

Ν \ ” / ,

TO παλαιὸν ἄχος, νέος ἰχώρ.

Xo. ἰὼ ἰὼ βασιλεῦ βασιλεῦ,

Κλ.

πῶς σε δακρύσω;
Ν 2 / / 3 y
φρενὸς ἐκ φιλίας TL TOT εἴπω;

-“ > > / » ig / ap
κεῖσαι δ᾽ ἀράχνης ἐν ὑφάσματι TOS

ἀσεβεῖ θανάτῳ βίον ἐκπνέων.
v / / 2 > /
ὦμοι μοι κοίταν τάνδ᾽ ἀνελεύθερον

/ / \

δολίῳ μόρῳ δαμεὶς
> \ > / 4
ἐκ χερὸς ἀμφιτόμῳ Beréuvo.

> - * / "ἢ > /
αὐχεῖς εἶναι τόδε τοὔργον ἐμόν"
μηδ᾽ ἐπιλεχθῆς
> / 53 / “τ
᾿Αγαμεμνονίαν εἶναί μ᾽ ἄλοχον.
φανταζόμενος δὲ γυναικὶ νεκροῦ

ad ¢ \ \ 5 /
τοῦδ᾽ ὁ παλαιὸς δριμὺς ἀλάστωρ
> / fa! an
Ατρέως χαλεποῦ θοινατῆρος

855

860

870

875

Ch.

Cl.

Ch.

62 THE AGAMEMNON

Yonder a full-grown
Victim for the ghosts of the children.

That thou of the blood here shed

Art innocent, who shall essay to witness?

No, no! Yet the fiend avenging

The father’s sin may have aided.

And swept along on floods of gore

From slaughtered kindred by the red

Deity of Strife, he comes where he must pay now
For the caked blood of the mangled infants.

What, did not he too wreak on his household
As crafty a crime?

Nay but the branch he grafted upon me,

My long-wept-for Iphigeneia,

Even as he dealt with her, so is he faring:
Therefore in Hades let him not boast now.
As he sinned by the sword,

So is death by the sword his atonement. >

In blank amaze, reft of thought’s resourceful
Counselling aid, I know not

Which way to turn, now the house is falling.

I dread the fierce, crashing storm that wrecks the home,
The storm of blood. Ceased is now the small rain.
But Justice is but whetting for some other deed

Of bale her sword’s edge on other whetstones.

} Ay me! Earth, Earth! Would thou hadst covered me,

Or ere in the silver-sided bath

Outstretched in death I had seen him!

Who shall make his grave? Who shall sing his dirge?
Who by the tomb of the deified hero weeping

Xo.

Κλ.

Χο.

THE AGAMEMNON

f > > /
τόνδ᾽ ἀπέτισεν,
/ cal 5 4
τέλεον veapois ἐπιθύσας.

ὡς μὲν ἀναίτιος εἶ
la / 7ὔ ig ΄

τοῦδε φόνου τίς ὁ μαρτυρήσων;

πῶ πῶ; πατρόθεν δὲ συλλή-

πτωρ γένοιτ᾽ ἂν ἀλάστωρ.
/ > id /

βιάζεται δ᾽ ὁμοσπόροις

ἐπιρροαῖσιν αἱμάτων

μέλας “Apns, ὅποι δίκαν προβαίνων
͵7] ,ὔ /

πάχνᾳ κουροβόρῳ παρέξει.

οὐδὲ γὰρ οὗτος δολίαν ἄτην
οἴκοισιν ἔθηκ᾽;
ἀλλ᾽ ἐμὸν ἐκ τοῦδ᾽ ἔρνος ἀερθέν,
τὴν πολυκλαύτην ᾿Ιφιγενείαν,
yA / BA /
ἄξια δράσας ἄξια πάσχων
μηδὲν év” Ardou μεγαλαυχείτω,
/
ξιφοδηλήτῳ
, U SS

θανάτῳ τίσας ἅπερ ἦρξεν.
3 a / \
ἀμηχανῶ φροντίδος στερηθεὶς
εὐπάλαμον μέριμναν
ὅπα τράπωμαι, πίτνοντος οἴκου.

δέδοικα δ᾽ ὄμβρου κτύπον δομοσφαλῆ

τὸν αἱματηρόν: ψακὰς δὲ λήγει.

Δίκη δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλο πρᾶγμα θηγάνει βλάβης

πρὸς ἄλλαις θηγάναισιν ἄορ.

ἰὼ ya γᾶ, εἴθ᾽ ἔμ᾽ ἐδέξω,
πρὶν τόνδ᾽ ἐπιδεῖν ἀργυροτοίχου
δροίτας κατέχοντα χαμεύνην.
7, c ͵ , ε ΄
τίς ὁ θάψων νιν; τίς ὁ θρηνήσων;

τίς δ᾽ ἐπιτύμβιον αἶνον ἐπ᾽ ἀνδρὶ θείᾳ

880

885

890

895

900

905

gIo

Cl.

Ch.

Cl.

64 THE AGAMEMNON

Shall chant his praise, and bowed down
In unfeigned grief of heart lament him?

Thee it beseems not herein to concern thee:

No, for beneath ws

He bowed, he lay dead, and below shall we bury him,
Not to a mourning household’s dirges,

But Iphigeneia with welcome blithe,

As a daughter should,

Shall encounter her sire at the swift-flowing strait
Of Wailing, and there

Fling around him her arms and shall kiss him.

Reviling this answereth reviling.

Hard to adjudge the strife seems.

The spoiler is spoiled, the slayer pays reprisal.

While on his throne Zeus abides, abides the truth:

Who doth the deed, suffereth: so the law stands.

Who from the house shall cast the brood of curses
forth?

The whole race is welded fast to ruin.

When you stumbled upon this saw, ‘twas truth
Led thee. But I now

With the fiend of the Pleisthenid race consent
This treaty to swear: what is done, we accept,
Hard be it to bear, if he will but quit
Henceforth this house, and afflict with kindred
Murder some other race instead.

Though mine be a small

Portion of wealth, that in full shall suffice me,
If I thus may cleanse

These halls from the frenzy of blood-feud.

Κλ.

Χο.

Κλ.

THE AGAMEMNON

\ / why
ξὺν δακρύοις ἰάπτων
> ᾿ς lal /
ἀλαθείᾳ φρενῶν πονήσει;

ἊΝ \ / XN / > 5 ,
οὐ σὲ προσήκει TO μέλημ αλέγειν
τοῦτο" πρὸς ἡμῶν
/ / 4, ΙΝ
κάππεσε, κάτθανε, καὶ καταθάψομεν
> Ὁ \ r Lal τ ”
οὐχ ὑπὸ κλαυθμῶν τῶν ἐξ οἴκων, ...
ἀλλ᾽ ᾿Ιφιγένειά νιν ἀσπασίως
/ id /
θυγάτηρ, ὡς χρή,
/ 4
πατέρ᾽ ἀντιάσασα πρὸς ὠκύπορον
7 > > /
πόρθμευμ᾽ ἀχέων
lal r /
περὶ χεῖρε βαλοῦσα φιλήσει.

» ,’ 5 /
ὄνειδος ἥκει TOO ἀντ᾽ ὀνείδους.
δύσμαχα δ᾽ ἔστι κρῖναι.
΄ , > ᾿Ὶ / 5᾽»» 6 7
φέρει φέροντ᾽, ἐκτίνει δ᾽ ὁ καίνων.
/ δὲ , ’ θ ! ‘
μίμνει δὲ μίμνοντος ἐν θρόνῳ Διὸς
-“" Ν ,
παθεῖν τὸν épEavta: θέσμιον yap.
’, ΕΝ \ , lal > / ,
τίς ἂν yovay apaiov ἐκβάλοι δόμων;
κεκόλληται γένος πρὸς ἄτᾳ
ηταῖι γένος πρὸς ἄτᾳ.

ἐς τόνδ᾽ ἐνέβης ξὺν ἀληθείᾳ
χρησμόν. ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὖν
ἐθέλω δαίμονι τῷ ΤΠλεισθενιδῶν
ὅρκους θεμένη τάδε μὲν στέργειν,
δύστλητά περ ὄνθ᾽: ὃ δὲ λοιπόν, ἰόντ᾽
ἐκ τῶνδε δόμων ἄλλην γενεὰν
τρίβειν θανάτοις αὐθένταισι"
κτεάνων τε μέρος
βαιὸν ἐχούσῃ πᾶν ἀπόχρη μοι
μανίας μελάθρων

ἀλληλοφόνους ἀφελούσῃ.

915

920

925

9390

935

66 THE AGAMEMNON

[Enter AEGISTHUS attended by a body-guard
of spearmen.]|
AEGISTHUS

O glad dawn of the day that brings redress!
Now can I say that from above earth Gods
Look down to avenge the sorrows of mankind,
Now that I see this man in woven robes
Of Retribution stretched dead to my Joy,
Paying in full for a father’s crafty sin.
For Atreus, lord of Argos, this man’s siré,
Atreus, with zeal scarce welcome to my father,
Feigning to hold a joyful feasting day,
Served him a banquet of his children’s flesh.
The extremities, the feet and fingered hands,
He kept concealed, the rest disguised he set
Before Thyestes, where he sat apart:
Who at the first unwitting took and ate
That food now proved unwholesome to his race.
Then, recognizing the unhallowed deed,
He groaned, and falls back vomiting the sacrifice,
And calls a fell doom on the sons of Pelops,
Kicking the table away to aid his curse:
That thus might perish all the race of Pleisthenes.
For such cause do you see this man laid low;
And justly so did I contrive this slaughter.
While yet I dwelt abroad I reached my foe,
Weaving this dark conspiracy’s whole plot.
Thus glorious were death itself to me,
Now I have seen him caught in toils of Justice.
. Aegisthus, I scorn to insult distress:
But dost thou own wilfully to have slain him,
And alone to have contrived this woeful murder,

THE AGAMEMNON 67

[Enter AEGISTHUS attended by a body-guard
of spearmen. |

AITIZ002
3 5 ,
ὦ φέγγος εὗφρον ἡμέρας δικηφόρου. 940
φαίην av ἤδη νῦν βροτῶν τιμαόρους
n “4
θεοὺς ἄνωθεν γῆς ἐποπτεύειν ἄχη,
a 4
ἰδὼν ὑφαντοῖς ἐν πέπλοις ᾿ρινύων
\ A / / / > /
τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδε κείμενον Pias ἐμοΐ,
χερὸς πατρῴας ἐκτίνοντα μηχανάς. 945
fol an \
᾿Ατρεὺς yap ἄρχων τῆσδε γῆς, τοὕτου πατὴρ
᾿Ατρεύς, προθύμως μᾶλλον ἢ φίλως, πατρὶ
a s
τὠμῷ, KPEoupyov ἦμαρ εὐθύμως ἄγειν
δοκῶν, παρέσχε δαῖτα παιδείων κρεῶν.
/ lal YU
τὰ μὲν ποδήρη Kal χερῶν ἄκρους KTEVAS 950
Μ 25 » 3. 26 \ /
ἔκρυπτ᾽ ἄνωθεν ἄνδρ᾽ ἑκὰς καθήμενον
ΕΣ > e > > an > ἌΣ δ 3 / \
don ὁ δ᾽ αὐτῶν αὐτίκ᾽ ἀγνοίᾳ λαβὼν
» \ yy id € a /
ἔσθει βορὰν ἄσωτον, ὡς ὁρᾷς, γένει.
κἄπειτ᾽ ἐπιγνοὺς ἔργον οὐ καταίσιον
Μ 2 / δ᾽ 3 \ \ et
ὦμωξεν, ἀμπίπτει δ᾽ ἀπὸ σφαγὴν ἐρῶν, 955
μόρον δ᾽ ἄφερτον Πελοπίδαις ἐπεύχεται,
, ,ὔ / \ > n
λάκτισμα δείπνου Evvdixws τιθεὶς apa,
οὕτως ὀλέσθαι πᾶν τὸ ΠΠλεισθένους γένος.
ἐκ τῶνδέ σοι πεσόντω τόνδ᾽ ἰδεῖν πάρα.
: lol an VA
κἀγὼ δίκαιος τοῦδε τοῦ φόνου pagers. 960
Ν lal > Ἂς e U Lal vv
Kal τοῦδε τἀνδρὸς ἡψάμην θυραῖος ὦν,
lal / \ /
πᾶσαν συνάψας μηχανὴν δυσβουλίας.
cf \ \ 2 \ a b /
οὕτω καλὸν δὴ Kal TO κατθανεῖν ἐμοί,
ἰδόντα τοῦτον τῆς δίκης ἐν ἕρκεσιν.
/ a
Aiyic®’, ὑβρίζειν ἐν κακοῖσιν ov σέβω. 965
\ FW: / \ « \ a
av δ᾽ ἄνδρα τόνδε φὴς ἑκὼν κατακτανεῖν,
‘ fal
μόνος δ᾽ ἔποικτον τόνδε βουλεῦσαι φόνον"

5—2

Ae.

Ch.

Ae.

Ch.

68 THE AGAMEMNON

Know thine own head, judged guilty, shall not scape
The curses of a people flung in stones.

Thou to prate so, benched at the lowest oar,
While those of the upper tier control the ship!
Your old age shall be told how bitter it is

To be schooled in discreetness at your years.
Bonds and the pangs of hunger are supreme
Physicians to instruct even senile minds

In wisdom. Doth not this sight make thee see?
Kick not against the pricks, lest the wound smart.
Thou woman, in wait for returning warriors,
Lurking at home, defiling a man’s bed—

For a mighty captain didst thou plot this death?

. These words likewise shall prove the source of tears.
. Thou to be despot of our Argive folk,

Who durst not, when thou hadst contrived his death,
Durst not achieve the crime with thine own hand.
The beguiling was the wife’s part manifestly.

I was suspected, a foe by my birth.

Now with the dead king’s treasure will I strive

To rule this people: but the mutinous man

I shall yoke sternly, not like a corn-fed colt

In traces; no, but grim starvation, lodged

With darkness, shall not leave him till he is tamed.
Why, craven soul, didst thou not kill thy foe
Unaided, but must join with thee a woman,
Defilement of our country and its Gods,

To slay him? Oh, is Orestes living yet,

That he by fortune’s grace returning home
Victoriously may put both these to death?

. Nay, if thus in word and deed you threaten, soon

shall you be taught.

Ag,

Xo.

THE AGAMEMNON

ov φημ᾽ ἀλύξειν ἐν δίκῃ TO σὸν Kapa
δημορριφεῖς, σάφ᾽ ἴσθι, λευσίμους ἀράς.
σὺ ταῦτα φωνεῖς νερτέρᾳ προσήμενος

κώπῃ, κρατούντων τῶν ἐπὶ ζυγῷ δορός;

/ / δ ς , \
γνώσει γέρων ὧν ὡς διδάσκεσθαι βαρὺ
τῷ τηλικούτῳ, σωφρονεῖν εἰρημένον.
δεσμὸς δὲ καὶ τὸ γῆρας αἵ τε νήστιδες

4 vf b) / an

Svat διδάσκειν ἐξοχώταται φρενῶν
ἰατρομάντεις. οὐχ ὁρᾷς ὁρῶν τάδε;

πρὸς κέντρα μὴ λάκτιζε, μὴ παίσας μογῆς.

4 \ ,
γύναι, σὺ τοὺς ἥκοντας ἐκ μάχης μένων
οἰκουρὸς εὐνὴν ἀνδρὸς αἰσχύνων ἅμα
> \ a / rh) 4 /
ἀνδρὶ στρατηγῷ τόνδ᾽ ἐβούλευσας μόρον;
“ Ya n
καὶ ταῦτα τἄπη κλαυμάτων ἀρχηγενῆ.
ὡς δὴ σύ μοι τύραννος ᾿Αργείων ἔσει,
a > > \ ay 3 ΄ /
ὃς οὐκ, ἐπειδὴ τῷδ᾽ ἐβούλευσας μόρον,
δρᾶσαι τόδ᾽ ἔργον οὐκ ἔτλης αὐτοκτόνως.
\ a > a
TO yap δολῶσαι πρὸς γυναικὸς ἦν σαφῶς"
5 \ +o > \ oy tf
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὕποπτος ἐχθρὸς ἢ παλαιγενής.
ἐκ τῶν δὲ τοῦδε χρημάτων πειράσομαι
ἄρχειν πολιτῶν: τὸν δὲ μὴ πειθάνορα
΄ / » /
ζεύξω βαρείαις οὔτι μοι σειραφόρον
al ἴω ig a
κριθῶντα πῶλον: ἀλλ᾽ ὁ δυσφιλεῖ σκότῳ
λιμὸς ξύνοικος μαλθακόν σφ᾽ ἐπόψεται.
VA \ \ ” / > > \ an “
τί δὴ τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδ᾽ ἀπὸ ψυχῆς κακῆς
> > Ν ? / » / \
οὐκ αὐτὸς ἠνάριζες, ἀλλά νιν γυνὴ
χώρας μίασμα καὶ θεῶν ἐγχωρίων
ἔκτειν᾽; ᾽᾿Ορέστης apa που βλέπει φάος,
ὅπως κατελθὼν δεῦρο πρευμενεῖ τύχῃ
a , a \
ἀμφοῖν γένηται Toivde παγκρατὴς φονεύς;

979

980

985

990

995

, fal > ,
ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεὶ δοκεῖς τάδ᾽ ἔρδειν καὶ λέγειν, γνώσει

τάχα.

Ch.

Ae.

Ch.

70 THE AGAMEMNON

Forward now, my trusty spearmen! Here is work
for us at hand.
SOLDIERS
Forward now! His sword unsheathing, each man
stand upon his guard.
Nay, I too, my sword unsheathing, shrink not back,
though I must dfe.

. Die, thou sayest. The word is welcome. Ours be

now to make it good.

|. Nay forbear, my dearest husband. Let us do no

further ill.

Miseries are here to reap in plenty, a pitiable crop.

Harm enough is done already: let no blood by us be
spilt.

Then if haply these afflictions prove enough, there
let us stop,

Sorely smitten thus already by the heavy heel of fate.

Sodothawoman’sreason counsel, ifso be that any heed.

But for these to let their foolish tongues thus
blossom into speech,

Flinging out such overweening words, as though to
tempt their fate!

Never was it Argive fashion to fawn upon a
villainous man.

Well, I'll visit this upon you soon or late in days
to come.

That thou shalt not, if but Heaven guide Orestes
back to his home.

Yes, I know full well myself how banished men
will feed on hopes.

Do thy worst; wax fat, befouling righteousness,
while yet thou mayest.

Ao.

Κλ.

Χο.

THE AGAMEMNON 71
εἶα δή, φίλοι λοχῖται, τοὔργον οὐχ ἑκὰς τόδε.

ΛΟΧΙΤΑΙ

“2 / ‘ / a > /

εἶα δή, ξίφος πρόκωπον πᾶς τις εὐτρεπιζέτω.

3 \ \ > \ , > > / a
ANNA μὴν KAYO πρόκωπος οὐκ ἀναίνομαι θανεῖν.

/ / “-“ \ ͵ ᾿] « ,
δεχομένοις λέγεις θανεῖν σε" τὴν τύχην δ᾽ αἱρού-

μεθα. 1002

μηδαμῶς, ὦ φίλτατ᾽ ἀνδρῶν, ἄλλα Spacwpev
κακά.

ἀλλὰ καὶ τάδ᾽ ἐξαμῆσαι πολλὰ δύστηνον θέρος"

πημονῆς δ᾽ ἅλις γ᾽ ὑπάρχει" μηδὲν αἱματώμεθα.

εἰ δέ τοι μόχθων γένοιτο τῶνδ᾽ ἅλις, δεχοίμεθ᾽
ἄν, 1006

δαίμονος χηλῇ βαρείᾳ δυστυχῶς TETANY MEVOL.

2 a a
ὧδ᾽ ἔχει λόγος γυναικός, εἴ τις ἀξιοῖ μαθεῖν.

» \ " nr
ἀλλὰ τούσδ᾽ ἐμοὶ ματαίαν γλῶσσαν ὧδ᾽ ἀπαν-
ὔ
θίσαι

» lal » fal / ,
κἀκβαλεῖν ἔπη τοιαῦτα δαίμονος πειρωμένους.

> x > , ma ay a ,
οὐκ av ᾿Αργείων τόδ᾽ εἴη, φῶτα προσσαίνειν

κακόν. IOII
5 ΡῈ. 7 Sit e Vs e / , og
ἄλλ ἐγὼ σ᾽ EV ὑστέραισιν ἡμέραις METELL ETL.
> “-“
οὔκ, ἐὰν δαίμων Ὀρέστην δεῦρ᾽ ἀπευθύνῃ
μολεῖν.
φροῖν, 9. \ , ΝΜ > / /
010 ἐγὼ φεύγοντας ἄνδρας ἐλπίδας σιτουμένους.

- / / \ \ ,
πρᾶσσε, πιαίνου, μιαίνων τὴν δίκην, ἐπεὶ Tapa.

72 THE AGAMEMNON

Ae. Take my warning; for this folly thou shalt make
amends some day.

Ch. Brag: be valiant like a cock who crows and struts
beside his hen.

Cl. Treat with the contempt they merit these vain
yelpings. Thou and I,

Now the masters in this palace, will rule all things

righteously.

THE AGAMEMNON 73
Ac. to por δώσων ἄποινα τῆσδε μωρίας χρόνῳ.
Χο. κόμπασον θαρσῶν, ἀλέκτωρ ὥστε θηλείας
πέλας.
Κλ. μὴ προτιμήσῃς ματαίων τῶνδ᾽ ὑχαγμάτων" ἐγὼ
καὶ σὺ θήσομεν κρατοῦντε τῶνδε δωμάτων

καλῶς. ΤΟΙ9

= Sars ey ᾿ ἢ
ΒΤ εὐ νιτὸ ay ἀν Liat Tea | ἡ ΑΝ
λυ νι δου δεν BA δὲς oe τὸ

ἬΝ δ fad ΕΣ ates

τ Ἢ 7
‘ Ἷ ᾿ oy EG
τὰ: ως

a
=
>
4. " a
i

Bis =
ἢ
Ε ᾿
᾿ ον
«
7 4
=

THE CHOEPHORI

AESCHYLUS

THE CHOEPHOR!

[The grave of Agamemnon, near the palace of Argos. ]

ORESTES

Nether Hermes, guardian of paternal rights,
Preserve me and fight with me at my prayer.
Over this grave’s mound on my sire I call
To hearken, to give heed.

I was not there, father, to wail thy death,
Nor did I stretch my hand towards thy bier.

[Enter ELECTRA and the CHORUS. |
What is it I see? What is this troop of women
Approaching in conspicuous black robes
Of mourning? To what cause should I assign it?
Hath some new sorrow fallen upon the house?
Or should I guess they are bringing these libations
To appease my father in the world below?
Naught else? Yonder, it must be, walks Electra,
My sister. By the bitterness of her grief
I know her. O Zeus, grant me now to avenge
My sire’s death; on my side deign thou to fight.
Pylades, stand we aside, that I may learn
More surely who these suppliant women are.

CHORUS

““Go,”’ said she, “from the palace bear
Libations forth, with sharp resounding stroke of hand.”
Behold, my cheek is newly scarred with crimson,

ἘΠΕ CHOEPHORI

[The grave of Agamemnon, near the palace of Argos.|

OPESTHS

Ε an / ἋΣ 4 /

Epp χθόνιε πατρῷ ἐποπτεύων κράτη,
σωτὴρ γενοῦ μοι ξύμμαχός T αἰτουμένῳ"

΄ ὙΈΓΟΥΣ δ᾽ τὰ a , \
τύμβου δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ὄχθῳ τῷδε κηρύσσω πατρὶ
κλύειν, ἀκοῦσαι.

» \ ” / / /
ov yap παρὼν wuwta σόν, πάτερ, μόρον 5

SuiN3e 3 ,ὔ rn Sen) » 3, τ “ rf
οὐδ᾽ ἐξέτεινα χεῖρ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἐκφορᾷ νεκροῦ.

[Enter ELECTRA and the CHORUS. |

/ fol £ , 7! NHS /
TL χρῆμα λεύσσω; Tis ποθ᾽ ἥδ᾽ ὁμήγυρις
στείχει γυναικῶν φάρεσιν μελαγχίμοις
πρέπουσα; ποίᾳ ξυμφορᾷ προσεικάσω;
πότερα δόμοισι πῆμα προσκυρεῖ νέον; το
ἢ πατρὶ τὠμῷ τάσδ᾽ ἐπεικάσας τύχω
χοὰς φερούσας νερτέροις μειλίγματα ;
οὐδέν ποτ᾽ ἄλλο" καὶ yap ᾿Ηλέκτραν δοκῶ
στείχειν ἀδελφὴν τὴν ἐμὴν πένθει λυγρῷ
πρέπουσαν. ὦ Led, δός με τίσασθαι μόρον 15
πατρός, γενοῦ δὲ σύμμαχος θέλων ἐμοί.
Πυλάδη, σταθῶμεν ἐκποδών, ὡς ἂν σαφῶς
μάθω γυναικῶν ἥτις ἥδε προστροπή.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ἰαλτὸς ἐκ δόμων ἔβαν [στρ. α.
χοὰς προπομπὸς ὀξύχειρι σὺν κτύπῳ. 20

πρέπει παρηὶς φοινίοις ἀμυγμοῖς

78 THE CHOEPHORI

Rent by the bloodily furrowing nail!

At all hours feeds my heart on lamentation ceaselessly.
A scream was heard of linen torn,

As in my agony I ripped it up,

These folds o’er my breast,

Robes cruelly mangled,

Victims of my joyless task.

For thrilling Fear with lifted hair,

Prophetic to the house in dreams, and breathing wrath
From sleep, at dead of night with panic outcry
Uttered a shriek from the inner recess,

A fierce wail, bursting on the chamber where the women
And they who read this dream declared, (slept.
Pledging a verity by heaven revealed,

That ghosts underground,

Souls wrathfully plaintive,

Still against their slayers raged.

To avert such horror, the impious woman who sends
(Alas, Earth, Mother!) [me forth,
Plans a vain appeasement

That can ne’er appease. But I

Fear to speak the words she bade.

For what redemption can there be for blood once
Woe for this miserable hearth! [spilt ?
Woe for this house to ruin doomed!

A sunless gloom, abhorred of men,

A shroud of hate broods o’er a house
Death-bereaved of its master.

That venerable, resistless, invincible majesty,
That once found a way through
The ears and hearts of all men,

THE CHOEPHORI 79

ὄνυχος ἄλοκι νεοτόμῳ,

δι’ αἰῶνος δ᾽ ἰυγμοῖσι βόσκεται κέαρ.

λινοφθόροι δ᾽ ὑφασμάτων

λακίδες ἔφλαδον ὑπ᾽ ἄλγεσιν, 25
πρόστερνοι στολμοὶ

πέπλων ἀγελάστοις

ξυμφοραῖς πεπληγμένων.

τορὸς γὰρ ὀρθόθριξ φόβος, [ἀντ. α.
δόμων ὀνειρόμαντις, ἐξ ὕπνου κότον 30

πνέων, ἀωρόνυκτον ἀμβόαμα

μυχόθεν ἔλακε περὶ φόβῳ,

γυναικείοισιν ἐν δώμασιν βαρὺς πίτνων.

κριταί τε τῶνδ᾽ ὀνειράτων

θεόθεν ἔλακον ὑπέγγυοι 35
μέμφεσθαι τοὺς γᾶὰξ

νέρθεν περιθύμως

τοῖς κτανοῦσί T ἐγκοτεῖν.

fa / a
τοιῶνδε χάριν ἀχάριτον ἀπότροπον κακῶν, ἴστρ. β.
ἰὼ γαῖα μαῖα, 40
μωμένα μ᾽ ἰάλλει
δύσθεος γυνά. φοβοῦ-
μαι δ᾽ ἔπος τόδ᾽ ἐκβαλεῖν.
/ \ ΄ , “ /
τί yap λύτρον πεσόντος αἵματος πέδοι; 45
ἰὼ πάνοιζυς ἑστία,
᾽Ν \ /
im κατασκαφαὶ δόμων.
> la lal
ἀνήλιοι βροτοστυγεῖς
/ / /
δνόφοι καλύπτουσι δόμους
δεσποτῶν θανάτοισι. 50

σέβας δ᾽ ἄμαχον ἀδάματον ἀπόλεμον τὸ πρὶν [ἀντ. β.
δι’ ὦτων φρενός τε
δαμίας περαῖνου

Ch.

El.

Ch.

El.

Ch.

El.

Ch.

El.

Ch.

El.

Ch.

El.

Ch.

El.

Ch.

El.

80 THE CHOEPHORI

Now has fallen away. ’Tis Fear
Reigns instead. Prosperity—
That among mortals is a god, and more than god.
But Justice, watching with her scale,
On some by daylight swiftly swoops,
Or in the borderland of dark
Her lingering wrath ripening bides:
Others utterly the night whelms.

ELECTRA
Maidens, who serve our house and give it order,
While I pour forth these funeral offerings,
How must I speak, how pray, to appease my sire?
Shall I say that I bring a gift of love
From wife to loving husband—from my mother?
Nay, that I dare not. I know not what to say.
While you pour, utter blessings for the loyal.
To whom shall I give that name among our friends?
First to thyself, and all who hate Aegisthus.
For myself must I pray then, and for thee?
You know the truth: ’tis yours now to decide.
Whom else then to this company should I add?
Remember Orestes, banished though he be.
’Tis well said. Wisely have you admonished me.
Next, mindful of those guilty of that bloodshed—
Well, what? Direct me: instruct my ignorance.
Pray that upon them come some god or mortal—
To judge or to avenge? Which do you mean?
Say simply this: ‘‘one to take life for life.”
Is that a holy prayer for me to utter?
Why not?—to requite foes with injury!
Mighty Herald between worlds above and under,
Aid me, O nether Hermes, summoning

THE CHOEPHORI

νῦν ἀφίσταται. φοβεῖ-
Ν 3 ᾽ “Ὁ
ται δέ τις. τὸ δ᾽ εὐτυχεῖν
τόδ᾽ ἐν βροτοῖς θεός τε καὶ θεοῦ πλέον.
ῥοπὴ δ᾽ ἐπισκοπεῖ δίκας
ταχεῖα τοὺς μὲν ἐν φάει,
τὰ δ᾽ ἐν μεταιχμίῳ σκότου
/ ΄ /
μένει χρονίζοντι βρύει,
\ Maier ” /
τοὺς δ᾽ ἄκρατος ἔχει νύξ.
HAEKTPA
\ na 4 > /
δμῳαὶ γυναῖκες, δωμάτων εὐθήμονες,
/ n / / / /
τί φῶ χέουσα τάσδε κηδείους χοάς;
πῶς εὔφρον᾽ εἴπω, πῶς κατεύξωμαι πατρί;
πότερα λέγουσα παρὰ φίλης φίχῳ φέρειν
γυναικὸς ἀνδρί, τῆς ἐμῆς μητρὸς πάρα;
an ’ > 4 / 2Q) » ΄ lal
τῶνδ᾽ οὐ πάρεστι θάρσος, οὐδ᾽ ἔχω τί PO.
φθέγγου χέουσα κεδνὰ τοῖσιν εὔφροσιν.
τίνας δὲ τούτους τῶν φίλων προσεννέπω;

πρῶτον μὲν αὑτὴν χῶώστις Αἴγισθον στυγεῖ.

>| , \ / int » / /
ἐμοί τε καὶ σοί Tap ἐπεύξωμαι τάδε;

> \ \ lal / a ἂν /
αὐτὴ σὺ ταῦτα μανθάνουσ᾽ ἤδη φράσαι.

, a Ἢ 5: ὦ κ a
. τίν᾽ οὖν ἔτ᾽ ἄλλον τῆδε προστιθῷ στάσει;

/ ws: / ? θ al > }) Ψ
μέμνησ᾽ ᾿Ορέστου, Ket θυραῖός ἐσθ᾽ ὅμως.

> r , ti /
. εὖ τοῦτο, κἀφρένωσας οὐχ ἥκιστά με.

“ nr /
τοῖς αἰτίοις νυν τοῦ φόνου μεμνημένη

/ lal 7 te ead τὶ /
τί φῶ; δίδασκ᾽ ἄπειρον ἐξηγουμένη.
ἐλθεῖν τιν᾽ αὐτοῖς δαίμον᾽ ἢ βροτῶν τινα

. πότερα δικαστὴν ἢ δικηφόρον λέγεις;

id nr ΄ ’ a > “
ἁπλῶς τι φράζουσ᾽, ὅστις ἀνταποκτενεῖ.

\ lal pd > \ > lel la] ld
. Kal ταῦτά μοὐστὶν εὐσεβῆ θεῶν πάρα;
-“ δ᾽ > \ > \ > 7 “
πῶς δ᾽ οὐ τὸν ἐχθρὸν ἀνταμείβεσθαι κακοῖς;
a / a Yd
. κῆρυξ μέγιστε TOV ἄνω τε καὶ κάτω,

ἄρηξον, ‘Kpuh χθόνιε, κηρύξας ἐμοί,

82 THE CHOEPHORI

The powers beneath the earth to hear my prayers
Uttered for wrongs done to a father’s home.
Pouring this lustral water to dead men,

I call upon my sire: Have pity on me.

With dear Orestes kindle thy dark halls.

And for me grant that I prove chaster far

Than was my mother, more innocent my hand.
For us these prayers. But for our adversaries
One to avenge thee, father, I bid rise,

And that thy slayers justly in turn be slain.

. Tell the Gods that thy prayers have been fulfilled,

And pray hereafter for like good success.

. Why, for what boon have I to thank them now?

. The sight of that for which thou hast prayed so long.
. Whom canst thou know that I was summoning?

. Whom but Orestes, the idol of thy soul?

. And what proof have I that my prayers are answered?
. Here am I. Seek no nearer friend than me.

. O Sir, is this some snare you are weaving round me?
. Against myself then am I framing it.

. I see you wish to mock at my afflictions.

. Then at my own too, if indeed at thine.

!, As if thou wert Orestes then I bid thee....

. Nay, ’tis himself thou seest and wilt not know.

. Ὁ thou sweet eye, glancing for me with love

Fourfold! To thee must needs be given the name
Of father: to thee falls the love I owe

To a mother—mine has merited utmost hate—
And to a sister, cruelly sacrificed.

Proved now a brother true, I reverence thee.
Only may Power and Justice, and with these
Zeus, mightiest of all, be on thy side.

THE CHOEPHORI

‘ lel Μ / / 5» \
τοὺς γῆς ἔνερθε δαίμονας κλύειν ἐμὰς
εὐχάς, πατρῴων δωμάτων ἐπισκόπους.
> \ ͵ / / lal
κἀγὼ χέουσα τάσδε χέρνεβας βροτοῖς
a / \
λέγω καλοῦσα πατέρ᾽, "ἐποίκτειρόν τ᾽ ἐμὲ
VOR) / n ” 5
φίλον τ᾽ ᾿Ορέστην φῶς ἄναψον ἐν δόμοις.
lel / \ /
αὐτῇ τέ μοι δὸς σωφρονεστέραν πολὺ
τς a
μητρὸς γενέσθαι χεῖρά τ᾽ εὐσεβεστέραν.
lal \ a .
ἡμῖν μὲν εὐχὰς τάσδε, τοῖς δ᾽ ἐναντίοις
fol / , ΄
λέγω φανῆναί σου, πάτερ, τιμάορον,
\ “ a
Kal τοὺς KTavovTas ἀντικατθανεῖν δίκῃ.
\ a na
εὔχου τὰ λοιπά, τοῖς θεοῖς τελεσφόρους
εὐχὰς ἐπαγγέλλουσα, τυγχάνειν καλῶς.
ἐπεὶ τί νῦν ἕκατι δαιμόνων κυρῶ;
SL. τὰν “ e 2 ’ ,
εἰς ὄψιν ἥκεις ὧνπερ ἐξηύχου πάλαι.
΄ / , n
καὶ τίνα σύνοισθά μοι καλουμένῃ βροτῶν;
σύνοιδ᾽ ᾿Ορέστην πολλά σ᾽ ἐκπαγλουμένην.

. καὶ πρὸς τί δῆτα τυγχάνω κατευγμάτων;

ὅδ᾽ εἰμί: μὴ μάτευ᾽ ἐμοῦ μᾶλλον φίλον.
ἀλλ᾽ ἡ δόλον τιν᾽, ὦ Eév’, ἀμφί μοι πλέκεις;
αὐτὸς καθ᾽ αὑτοῦ τἄρα μηχανορραφώ.
ἀλλ᾽ ἐν κακοῖσι τοῖς ἐμοῖς γελᾶν θέλεις.
κἀν τοῖς ἐμοῖς ἄρ᾽, εἴπερ ἔν γε τοῖσι σοῖς.
ὡς ὄντ᾽ ᾿Ορέστην τἄρ᾽ ἐγὼ σε προὐννέπω;
αὐτὸν μὲν οὖν ὁρῶσα δυσμαθεῖς ἐμέ.

ὦ τερπνὸν ὄμμα τέσσαρας μοίρας ἔχον
ἐμοί" προσαυδᾶν δ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἀναγκαίως ἔχον
πατέρα τε, καὶ τὸ μητρὸς ἐς σέ μοι ῥέπει
στέργηθρον" ἡ δὲ πανδίκως ἐχθαίρεται"
καὶ τῆς τυθείσης νηλεῶς ὁμοσπόρου"
πιστὸς δ᾽ ἀδελφὸς ἦσθ᾽, ἐμοὶ σέβας φέρων'
μόνον Κράτος τε καὶ Δίκη σὺν τῷ τρίτῳ
πάντων μεγίστῳ Ζηνὶ συγγένοιτό σοι.

6—2

990

Ioo

105

Ito

115

Or.

Ch.

84 THE CHOEPHORI

Zeus, Zeus, look down; witness what here is done.
Behold this orphan brood of an eagle sire

That perished in the twines and writhing coils
Of a fell viper. Fatherless are they, gripped
By hungry want, for strength is not yet theirs
To bring home to the nest their father’s prey.
Like them mayst thou behold me; and her too,
Electra, children fatherless and forlorn,

Both suffering the same exile from our home.
O children, saviours of the ancestral hearth,
Silence, I pray, lest someone overhear,

And to ease a babbling tongue report all this
To those that rule. Ah may I one day watch
Their corpses in the spluttering resinous flame!

. Never shall Loxias’ mighty oracle

Betray us. He it was who bade me endure

This peril, threatening oft with voice uplifted
Woes to make cold as winter my warm heart,

If I avenged not those that slew my sire.

The wrath rising from earth of hostile powers
His voice proclaimed to men, citing such plagues
As leprous ulcers crawling o’er the flesh,

Eating its health away with cruel jaws:

And how upon this plague a white down grows.
Yet other onslaughts of the avenging fiends
Sprang from a father’s blood, so he foretold:

For the unseen weapon of the nether powers,
Stirred by slain kinsmen calling for revenge,
Frenzy and causeless terror of the night,

Perturb and harass; till by the brazen scourge
His marred carcase is chased forth from the town.
At last without rites, without friends, he dies,

Op.

THE CHOEPHORI

“ a \ a lol
Ζεῦ Ζεῦ, θεωρὸς τῶνδε πραγμάτων γενοῦ"
ἰδοῦ δὲ γένναν εὖνιν αἰετοῦ πατρός,
θανόντος ἐν πλεκταῖσι καὶ σπειράμασι

fol / ᾿]

δεινῆς ἐχίδνης. τοὺς δ᾽ ἀπωρφανισμένους

a / / -
νῆστις πιέζει λιμός" οὐ γὰρ ἐντελεῖς

fe / / /
θήραν πατρῴαν προσφέρειν σκηνήμασιν.

Ν 5

οὕτω δὲ κἀμὲ τήνδε τ᾽, ᾿Ηλέκτραν λέγω,

fal / n ,
ἰδεῖν πάρεστί σοι, πατροστερῆ γόνον,
yA \ ΝΜ \ IY /
ἄμφω φυγὴν ἔχοντε τὴν αὐτὴν δόμων.

t 3 a fal

ὦ παῖδες, ὦ σωτῆρες ἑστίας πατρός,
af a 3

σιγᾶθ᾽, ὅπως μὴ πεύσεταί τις, ὦ τέκνα,

/ U \ , > > / /
γλώσσης χάριν δὲ πάντ᾽ ἀπαγγείλῃ τάδε

\ - «ὃ
πρὸς τοὺς κρατοῦντας" οὖς ἴδοιμ᾽ ἐγώ ποτε

/ ral
θανόντας ἐν κηκῖδι πισσήρει φλογός.
7 / / N
οὔτοι προδώσει Λοξίου μεγασθενὴς
/ ΄ ἴω
χρησμὸς κελεύων τόνδε κίνδυνον περᾶν,
καξορθιάζων πολλὰ καὶ δυσχειμέρους
» Ce \ b) ΄
ἄτας ὑφ᾽ ἧπαρ θερμὸν ἐξαυδώμενος,
“ \ \ Ψ
εἰ μὴ μέτειμι τοῦ πατρὸς τοὺς αἰτίους"
an /
τὰ μὲν yap ἐκ γῆς δυσφρόνων μηνίματα

130

“-“ 3 -“ /
βροτοῖς πιφαύσκων εἶπε, τάσδ᾽ αἰνῶν νόσους---

a a ’ /
σαρκῶν ἐπαμβατῆρας ἀγρίαις γνάθοις
A b] / ᾽ / Uy
λειχῆνας ἐξέσθοντας ἀρχαίαν φύσιν,
7 -
λεῦκὰς δὲ κόρσας τῇδ᾽ ἐπαντέλλειν νόσῳ"
” ’ > ,
ἄλλας τ᾽ ἐφώνει προσβολὰς ᾿ρινύων
a ,
ἐκ τῶν πατρῴων αἱμάτων TedouUpEVAS*
N \ \ -“ / ΄
τὸ γὰρ σκοτεινὸν τῶν ἐνερτέρων βέλος
> / /
ἐκ προστροπαίων ἐν γένει πεπτωκότων,
\ Ul \ / 2 a ,
καὶ λύσσα καὶ ματαίος ἐκ νυκτῶν φόβος
κινεῖ, ταράσσει, καὶ διώκεσθαι πόλεως
/ / \
χαλκηλάτῳ πλάστιγγι λυμανθὲν δέμας,
πάντων δ᾽ ἄτιμον κἄφιλον θνή ᾿
pov κἄφιλον θνήσκειν χρόνῳ

140

145

Ch.

El.

™~s

86 THE CHOEPHORI

Utterly wasted to a vile mummied corpse.
Should I not trust such oracles as these?
Though I trust them not, the deed must yet be done.

O powerful Fates, let Zeus now send

Prosperous fortune

Unto us whom righteousness aideth.

“Enmity of tongue for enmity of tongue

Be paid in requital,” cries Justice aloud,

Exacting the debt that is owed her.

“Murderous blow for murderous blow

Let him take for his payment.” “Τὸ the deed its
So speaks immemorial wisdom. {reward,”’

. Father, O father of woe, what word

Am I to speak, or what do

To waft this message afar to thee,
Where in the grave thou couchest?
As darkness and light are sundered,
Loving rites cannot reach thee,

The dirge chanted of old to praise
Kings of the house of Atreus.

My son, the ravening jaw

Of fire subdues not wholly

The spirit of him who is dead.

Someday his mood he revealeth.

When the slain man is bewailed, then

Is the injurer discovered.

And a rightful lamentation

For a parent hunts and ranges

With wide search, till the guilt is tracked down.

Hear then, O father, as we in turn
Utter our tearful anguish.

THE CHOEPHORI 87

κακῶς ταριχευθέντα παμφθάρτῳ μόρῳ. 150
τοιοῖσδε χρησμοῖς ἄρα χρὴ πεποιθέναι;
Kel μὴ πέποιθα, τοὔργον ἔστ᾽ ἐργαστέον.
Χο. ἀλλ᾽ ὦ μεγάλαι Μοῖραι, Διόθεν
τῆδε τελευτᾶν,
φ \ ὃ , β / I
ἢ TO δικαίον μεταβαίνει. 99
«2 ‘ \ > a / 5 \
ἀντὶ μὲν ἐχθρᾶς γλώσσης ἐχθρὰ
γλώσσα τελείσθω᾽ τοὐφειλόμενον
πράσσουσα Δίκη μέγ᾽ ἀυτεῖ"
«ἀντὶ δὲ πληγῆς φονίας φονίαν
\ , 5. τς , θ et,
πληγὴν τινέτω. “δράσαντι παθεῖν, 160
fal / rn
Tpuyépwv μῦθος τάδε φωνεῖ.
Ορ. ὦ πάτερ αἰνοπαθές, τί σοι
/ x yi ws
φάμενος ἢ τί ῥέξας
τύχοιμ᾽ ἄγκαθεν οὐρίσας,
Μ get! > , -Ἀ
ἔνθα σ᾽ ἔχουσιν εὐναί; 165
Li ,ὔ > /
σκότῳ φάος ἀντίμοι-
/
ρον" χάριτες δ᾽ ὁμοίως
/ / 5» \
κέκληνται γόος εὐκλεὴς
προσθοδόμοις ᾿Ατρείδαις.
Χο. τέκνον, φρόνημα τοῦ 170
θανόντος ov δαμάζει
\ \ U
πυρὸς μαλερὰ γνάθος,
φαίνει δ᾽ ὕστερον ὀργάς"
e
ὀτοτύζεται δ᾽ ὁ θνήσκων,
ἀναφαίνεται δ᾽ ὁ βλάπτων. 175
πατέρων τε καὶ τεκόντων
γόος ἔνδικος ματεύει
τὸ πᾶν ἀμφιλαφὴς ταραχθείς.
Ηλ. κλῦθί νυν, ὦ πάτερ, ἐν μέρει
πολυδάκρυτα πένθη. 180

Ch.

El.

Or.

Ch.

88 THE CHOEPHORI

Thy two children are we whose dirge

Wails for thee o’er thy grave-mound.

The suppliant and the exile

To thy tomb we draw near.

What here is well? What is free from woe?
Vain with our doom to wrestle.

I beat my breast to an Arian dirge, and in the mode
Of Kissian wailing-women slaves, [hands
With clutching and bespattering strokes behold my
In quick succession uplifted higher and higher still
To fall in battering blows, until my miserable
Belaboured head resounds beneath the cruel shock.

Oh fie on thee! Cruel fiend!

Thou wicked mother! Cruel was that funeral.
Without kinsfolk, him, a king,

Without lament, unbewailed,

Thou hadst the heart so to inter a husband.

No rites at all! Was it so then? Oh shame!
Nay verily, for my father’s shaming

By help of heaven she shall pay,

By help of these hands of mine.

And then, when I have slain her, let me perish.

This also know, his limbs were lopped and mangled.
’Twas her design, hers who so could bury him,

To make his death such that thou

Shouldst not endure still to live.

Thou now hast heard how thy sire was outraged.

. On thee I call; father, stand beside thine own.
El.
Ch.

And I to his, all in tears, would add my voice.
And we too all cry aloud with one accord:

THE CHOEPHORI 89g

/ / ἦν 7
δίπαις τοί σ᾽ ἐπιτύμβιος
“ » ,
θρῆνος ἀναστενάζει.
τάφος δ᾽ ἱκέτας δέδεκται
, + Le ee /
φυγάδας θ᾽ ὁμοίως.
,ὔ fal ’ 5 ἐς > » fal
τί τῶνδ᾽ εὖ, τί δ᾽ ἄτερ κακῶν; 185
οὐκ ἀτρίακτος ἄτα;

lj /

Xo. ἔκοψα κομμὸν "Ἀριον ἔν τε Κισσίας

νόμοις ἰηλεμιστρίας,
4 > 4s INA
ἀπριγκτόπληκτα πολυπάλακτα δ᾽ ἣν ἰδεῖν
an \ Ν /
ἐπασσυτεροτριβῆ τὰ χερὸς ὀρέγματα 190
Ψ, ’ / / 273 “-“
ἄνωθεν ἀνέκαθεν, κτύπῳ δ᾽ ἐπιρροθεῖ
δ . , ,
κροτητὸν ἀμὸν πανάθλιον κάρα.
Ν oh
HX. ἰὼ ἰὼ daia
, nr nA > ν᾿ lal
πάντολμε μᾶτερ, Salas ἐν ἐκφοραῖς
rn 7

ἄνευ πολιτῶν ἄνακτ᾽, 195
» XN i
ἄνευ δὲ πενθημάτων
ἔτλας ἀνοίμωκτον ἄνδρα θάψαι.

/ »
Op. ταφὰς ἀτίμους ἔλεξας, οἴμοι;
/
πατρὸς © ἀτίμωσιν apa τίσει
\ /

ἕκατι μὲν δαιμόνων, 200

ἕκατι δ᾽ ἀμᾶν χερῶν.

» 2 \ / ’ ,

ἔπειτ EY νοσφίσας ολοίμαν.

Χο. ἐμασχαλίσθη δέ γ᾽, ὡς τόδ᾽ εἰδῇς,
» > Ὁ τς ΄
ἔπρασσε δ᾽ ἅπερ νιν ὧδε θάπτει,
μόρον κτίσαι μωμένα 205
ἄφερτον αἰῶνι σῴ.
/ ΄ tg > /
κλύεις πατρῴους δύας ἀτίμους.
Ορ. σέ τοι λέγω, ξυγγενοῦ, πάτερ, φίλοις.
Ηλ. ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἐπιφθέγγομαι κεκλαυμένα.
τα 4 \ 4 ao? > al
Xo. στάσις δὲ πάγκοινος ἅδ᾽ ἐπιρροθεῖ" 210

go THE CHOEPHORI

Or. El. Ch. Oh hearken; visit thou the light:

Or.

El.
Ch.

Aid us against our foes’ hate.

Let sword with sword, right encountering meet with
right.

Ye deities, judge the right with righteousness.

A shudder steals o’er me, as I hear such prayers,

Or. El. Ch. Though destiny hath bided long,

Or.

El.

Ch.

Yet shall your prayer reveal it.

O father, who wast so unkingly slain,
Grant, I implore thee, lordship in thy house.

. A like boon, father, do I ask of thee:

Let me escape, and let Aegisthus perish.

. O Earth, release my sire to guide me in fight.

. O Persephassa, grant fair victory.

. Remember the bath wherewith they slew thee, father.
. Remember what strange cloak-net they devised.

. In fetters no smith forged thou wast snared, father.
. Yes, in a wrapping plotted for thy shame.

. Art thou not wakened by these tauntings, father?

. Dost thou not lift up thy beloved head?

. Either send Justice to fight beside thine own,

Or grant us the like grip of them in turn,

If thou by victory wouldst retrieve defeat.
Hearken once more to this last cry, father.
Behold these nestlings crouching at thy tomb,
And pity us both, thy daughter and thy son.

. And blot not out this seed of Pelops’ line:

For thus, though thou hast died, thou art not dead.
Come, amply have you lengthened out your dirge,
Due tribute to the tomb’s unwept dishonour.

For the rest, since now thy heart is set on deeds,
Get thee to work forthwith, and test thy fortune.

Xo.

THE CHOEPHORI

. HA. Χο, ἄκουσον ἐς φάος μολών,

ξὺν δὲ γενοῦ πρὸς ἐχθρούς.

"Ἄρης "Ἄρει ξυμβαλεῖ, Δίκᾳ Δίκα.

CY / / ar) , ,
. ἰὼ θεοί, κραίνετ᾽ ἐνδίκως δίκας.

/ τ 6 / Α͂ > /
τρόμος μ᾽ ὑφέρπει κλύουσαν εὐγμάτων.
Ηλ. Χο. τὸ μόρσιμον μένει πάλαι,

> / > Kn »
εὐχομένοις δ᾽ ἂν ἔλθοι.

. πάτερ, τρόποισιν οὐ τυραννικοῖς θανών,

Ν / A fal /
αἰτουμένῳ μοι δὸς κράτος τῶν σῶν δόμων.

. κἀγώ, πάτερ, τοιάνδε σου χρείαν ἔχω,

οἰκεῖν μετ᾽ ἀνδρὸς θεῖσαν Αἰγίσθῳ μόρον.

. ὦ γαῖ᾽, ἄνες μοι πατέρ᾽ ἐποπτεῦσαι μάχην.
. ὦ Περσέφασσα, δὸς δέ γ᾽ εὔμορφον κράτος.
. μέμνησο λουτρῶν οἷς ἐνοσφίσθης, πάτερ.
/ ie) , ξ > /

. μέμνησο δ᾽ ἀμφίβληστρον ws ἐκαίνισας---
πέδαις γ᾽ ἀχαλκεύτοισι θηρευθείς, πάτερ,--
. αἰσχρῶς τε βουλευτοῖσιν ἐν καλύμμασιν.

et oH / a >, > / /
. ap ἐξεγείρει τοῖσδ᾽ ὀνείδεσιν, πάτερ;

ee eee \ " / \ \ 7
. ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν αἴρεις φίλτατον τὸ σὸν κάρα;
, ἤτοι δίκην ἴαλλε σύμμαχον φίλοις,

ἢ τὰς ὁμοίας ἀντίδος λαβὰς λαβεῖν,
᾽ν a
εἴπερ κρατηθείς γ᾽ ἀντινικῆσαι θέλεις.

\ a ὙΓ / a ΄,
καὶ τῆσδ᾽ ἄκουσον λοισθίου βοῆς, πάτερ,
>? \ \ / > > / /
ἰδὼν νεοσσοὺς τούσδ᾽ ἐφημένους τάφῳ"

» fol ” / “.ς fal /
οἴκτειρε θῆλυν ἄρσενός θ᾽ ὁμοῦ γόον.

. καὶ μὴ ᾿᾽ξαλείψης σπέρμα Πελοπιδῶν τόδε.

“ \ > / > / /
οὕτω yap ov τέθνηκας οὐδέ περ θανών.
\ A ’ fol / we / /
καὶ μὴν ἀμεμφῆ τόνδ᾽ ἐτεινάτην λόγον,
τίμημα τύμβου τῆς ἀνοιμώκτου τύχης.
7

τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλ᾽, ἐπειδὴ δρᾶν κατώρθωσαι φρενί,
ἔρδοις ἂν ἤδη δαίμονος πειρώμενος.

ΟΙ

220

225

230

235

240

Or.

ΟἿ

Or.

Ch.

Or.
Ch.

Ch.

Or.

02 ᾿ THE CHOEPHORI

That will 1. Yet first it were well to enquire,
Wherefore she sent libations; what could move her
So late to make amends for wrongs past cure?

I know, my son; for I was there. By dreams

And prowling terrors of the night perturbed,

The godless woman sent these offerings.

And did you learn the dream? Then tell it me.

She gave birth in her dream to a snake, she says,
And couched it like a babe in swaddling bands.

For what food did it crave, this new-born monster?
She offered it her own breast in her dream,

And with the milk it sucked a curd of blood.

Then she awoke from sleep shrieking for terror;
And many a lamp, whose light the dark had blinded,
Flared up throughout the house at the queen’s need.
Therefore these pious offerings she sends,

In hope to lance and cure the mischief so.

. Now to this earth and to my father’s grave

I pray that in me this dream may be fulfilled.
She who thus nursed so dread a prodigy

Must die by force, and I, enserpented,

Shall be her slayer, as this dream foretells.

I accept thy divination of these signs.

So may it prove. Teach now thy friends their part,
Telling what each should do or should not do.
Tis simple. Let Electra go within.

These women I bid keep concealed my plan.
Then as by craft they slew a noble prince,

By craft they shall be caught in the same noose,
And perish, even as Loxias foretold.

For like a traveller, and in full disguise,

To the main gate will I come with Pylades here,

Xo.

THE. CHOEPHORI

/
ἔσται: πυθέσθαι δ᾽ οὐδέν ἐστ᾽ ἔξω δρόμου,
, Ν » Ε] / ,
πόθεν χοὰς ἔπεμψεν, ἐκ τίνος λόγου
“ > >
μεθύστερον τιμῶσ᾽ ἀνήκεστον πάθος;
50. > an ’
οἶδ᾽, ὦ τέκνον, Taph γάρ" ἔκ T ὀνειράτων
/
καὶ νυκτιπλάγκτων δειμάτων πεπαλμένη
Bs ” / / /
χοὰς ἔπεμψε τάσδε δύσθεος γυνή.
or \ / ΕΣ v4 3. 8, an /
ἢ Kal πέπυσθε τοὔναρ, ὥστ᾽ ὀρθῶς φράσαι;
“Ὁ / > ὙᾺΡ, e > Ν /
τεκεῖν δράκοντ᾽ ἔδοξεν, ὡς αὐτὴ λέγει.
Ὁ
κἂν σπαργάνοισι παιδὸς ὁρμίσαι δίκην.
/ rn ΄
τίνος βορᾶς χρήζοντα, νεογενὲς δάκος ;
δ
αὐτὴ προσέσχε μαζὸν ἐν τὠνείρατι
¢, > ae | / / / tf
ὥστ᾽ ἐν γάλακτι θρόμβον αἵματος σπάσαι.
2 / /
ἡ δ᾽ ἐξ ὕπνου κέκραγεν ἐπτοημένη.
\ > τ᾿ fal /
πολλοὶ δ᾽ ἀνῇθον, ἐκτυφλωθέντες σκότῳ,
nr , .
λαμπτῆρες ἐν δόμοισι δεσποίνης χάριν"
/ as /
πέμπει T ἔπειτα τάσδε KNOELOUS χοάς,
, ec
ἄκος τομαῖον ἐλπίσασα πημάτων.
> 5 ΕΣ lal lol \ \ /
ἀλλ᾽ εὔχομαι γῇ τῇδε καὶ πατρὸς τάφῳ
τοὔνειρον εἶναι τοῦτ᾽ ἐμοὶ τελεσφόρον.
“-“ / ΄ », » he
δεῖ Tol viv, ws ἔθρεψεν ἔκπαγλον τέρας,
- / bs \ 3. 5 \
θανεῖν βιαίως" ἐκδρακοντωθεὶς δ᾽ ἐγὼ
/
κτείνω νιν, ὡς τοὔνειρον ἐννέπει τόδε.
, a fal
τερασκόπον δὴ τῶνδέ σ᾽ αἱροῦμαι πέρι.
Ε ed » an 7
γένοιτο δ᾽ οὕτως. τἄλλα δ᾽ ἐξηγοῦ φίλοις,
\ / “-“ \ \ a
τοὺς μέν TL ποιεῖν, τοὺς δὲ μή TL δρᾶν λέγω.
ig r id lal / \ / ”
ἁπλοῦς ὁ μῦθος: τήνδε μὲν στείχειν ἔσω,
αἰνώ δὲ κρύπτειν τάσδε συνθήκας ἐμάς,
c x / U 7” yy
ὡς ἂν δόλῳ κτείναντες ἄνδρα τίμιον
, \ a > ᾽ a /
δόλοισι Kal χληφθώσιν ἐν ταὐτῷ βρόχῳ
/ e \ Ye > /
θανόντες, 7) Kai Λοξίας ἐφήμισεν.
/ MS > / rn \ 4
ξένῳ yap εἰκώς, παντελῆ σαγὴν ἔχων,
3 n
ἥξω σὺν ἀνδρὶ τῷδ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ἑρκείους πύλας

245

250

255

260

205

Or.

94 THE CHOEPHORI

A guest to the house, aye and its spear-guest too.
And both of us will don Parnassian speech,

Copying the accent of a Phocian tongue.

Then once I have crossed the threshold of the court,
And found him seated in my father’s throne,

Or if afterwards he meet me face to face

And speak—dropping his craven eyes, be sure—
Ere he can say, “‘ Whence comes this stranger ?’’ dead,
Snared by my nimble weapon, will I smite him.

The Avenging Spirit, stinted ne’er of slaughter,
Shall drink in blood unmixed her third last draught.
Do thou then keep good watch within the house.
And you, I charge you, bear a cautious tongue

For speech or silence as the moment needs.

Last thou, friend, follow me and stand at watch

To succour me in the contest of the sword.

Ho, slave! open the gates! You hear me knock.
Is any there within doors?—Ho, slave, ho!
GATE-KEEPER

Enough! I hear. Of what land are you? Whence?

Announce me to the masters of the house.

The tidings I come bringing are for them.

And make haste; for night’s dusky chariot

Comes on apace. ’Tis time we travellers found

Some public guest-house to cast anchor in.
CLYTAEMNESTRA

Friends, speak your wishes. At your service here

Are all such comforts as beseem this house,

Warm baths, and to refresh your weariness,

Soft couches, and true eyes to attend your wants.

But if you have affairs of weightier counsel,

That is work for men, to whom we will impart it.

THE CHOEPHORI 95

΄ /
Πυλάδῃ: ξένος δὲ καὶ δορύξενος δόμων"
id /
ἄμφω δὲ φωνὴν ἥσομεν Ἰ]αρνησίδα, 275
, > \ Ἅ /
γλώσσης ἀυτὴν Φωκίδος μιμουμένω.
εἰ δ᾽ οὖν ἀμείψω βαλὸν ἑρκείων πυλών
cal /
κἀκεῖνον ἐν θρόνοισιν εὑρήσω πατρός,
\ \ ,
ἢ καὶ μολὼν ἔπειτά μοι κατὰ στόμα
A 3. 9 lal
ἐρεῖ, σάφ᾽ ἴσθι, καὶ kat ὀφθαλμοὺς βαλεῖ, 280
lal \ c / ’ \
πρὶν αὐτὸν εἰπεῖν “ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος ; νεκρὸν
/ , \ 7
θήσω, ποδώκει περιβαλὼν χαλκεύματι.
’ \
φόνου δ᾽ ᾿Ερινὺς οὐχ ὑπεσπανισμένη
/ / /
ἄκρατον αἷμα πίεται τρίτην πόσιν.
fal 9S \ \ / 3 v a
νῦν οὖν ov μὲν φύλασσε ταν οἴκῳ καλῶς, 4285
« a + ae | lal a » ,
ὑμῖν δ᾽ ἐπαινῶ γλῶσσαν εὔφημον φέρειν,
-“ ef lal / ‘
σιγᾶν θ᾽ ὅπου δεῖ Kal λέγειν τὰ καίρια.
Μ "2 “ΟΣ a
τὰ δ᾽ ἄλλα τούτῳ δεῦρ᾽ ἐποπτεῦσαι λέγω,
> a > FA /
ξιφηφόρους ἀγῶνας ὀρθώσαντί μοι.

παῖ παῖ, θύρας ἄκουσον ἑρκείας κτύπον. 290
/ » 3 lal o 7 7 53 / > /
τίς ἔνδον, ὦ παῖ---παῖ, μάλ᾽ av, Tis ἐν δόμοις ;
OIKETHS
3 , \ e ΄ /
εἶεν, ἀκουω" ποδαπὸς ὁ ξένος; πόθεν;
” a / /
ἄγγελλε τοῖσι κυρίοισι δωμάτων,
πρὸς οὕσπερ ἥκω καὶ φέρω καινοὺς λόγους.
, [72 ,
Taxuve δ᾽, ὡς καὶ νυκτὸς ἅρμ᾽ ἐπείγεται 295
, /
σκοτεινόν, ὥρα δ᾽ ἐμπόρους καθιέναι
᾿ ,
ἄγκυραν ἐν δόμοισι πανδόκοις ξένων.
ΚΛΥΤΑΙΜΗΣΤΡΑ
/ ve > oN + a / \
ξένοι, λέγοιτ᾽ ἂν el τι δεῖ" πάρεστι yap
«ς cal , cal > . ’
ὁποϊάπερ δόμοισι τοῖσδ᾽ ἐπεικότα,
\ \ \ \ / ΄
καὶ θερμὰ λουτρὰ καὶ πόνων θελκτήριος 300
’ ,
στρωμνή, δικαίων T ὀμμάτων παρουσία.
ΠῚ, a a ’
εἰ δ᾽ ἄλλο πρᾶξαι δεῖ τι βουλιώτερον,
᾽ a 4d? 9 \ 54 Φ
ἀνδρῶν τόδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἔργον, οἷς κοινώσομεν.

Cl.

Or.

g6 THE CHOEPHORI

. lama Daulian traveller from Phocis.

As at my own risk I was carrying goods

To Argos, where now my long journey ends,

There met me a man 1 knew not, nor he me,
Strophius, a Phocean, so I learnt in talk.

Having asked my way and told me his, he said:
“Since anyhow you are bound for Argos, Sir,

Bear heedfully in mind to tell his parents

That Orestes is dead. Do not forget.

So whether his friends resolve to fetch him home,
Or bury him, our denizen and guest

Forever, bring me their injunctions back.
Meanwhile the curved sides of a brazen urn
Enclose his ashes, in due form bewept.”

I have told my whole message. Whether now

I am speaking to the rulers, and his kindred,

I know not; but his parent should be told.

Ah me! we are taken ruthlessly by storm.

O thou all-conquering curse that haunts this house,
How wide thy vision! with sure aim thy shafts
Strike even that we have hidden with care afar,
Stripping my dear ones from me, unhappy woman!
For my part certainly I could have wished

With happier tidings to commend myself

To hosts so princely, and earn their entertainment.

. Nay, due reward shall none the less be thine,

Nor shall you find yourself less welcome here.

Some other would have brought this news instead.
But now ’tis the hour when guests, tired by the day’s
Long journey, should be tended as befits.

Take him and lodge him well in the men’s chambers
With these his fellow-travellers and attendants.

Op.

Κλ.

THE CHOEPHORI

/ f \
ξένος μέν εἰμι Δαυλιεὺς ἐκ Φωκέων:
ὔ re “
στείχοντα δ᾽ αὐτόφορτον οἰκείᾳ σαγῇ
’ wv [2 (x ers γ᾽ ug /
ets “Apyos, ὥσπερ δεῦρ᾽ ἀπεζύγην πόδα,
> \ \ ’ ans’ <a κι A)
ἀγνὼς πρὸς ἀγνῶτ εἶπε συμβαλὼν ἀνήρ,
,
ἐξιστορήσας καὶ σαφηνίσας ὁδόν,
/ ς ,ὔ / \ > /
Στρόφιος ὁ Φωκεύς" πεύθομαι yap ἐν λόγῳ"
5) /
“ἐπείπερ ἄλλως, ὦ ξέν᾽, εἰς "Apyos κίεις,
ἣν ,
πρὸς τοὺς τεκόντας πανδίκως μεμνημένος
r ’ fal
τεθνεῶτ᾽ ᾿Ορέστην εἰπέ, μηδαμῶς λάθῃ.
, > /
εἴτ᾽ οὖν κομίζειν δόξα νικήσει φίλων,
τ \ a
εἴτ᾽ οὖν μέτοικον, εἰς TO πᾶν ἀεὶ ξένον,

θάπτειν, ἐφετμὰς τάσδε πόρθμευσον πάλιν.

a \ / / ΄
νῦν γὰρ λέβητος χαλκέου πλευρώματα
\ / > \ > / 2
σποδὸν κέκευθεν ἀνδρὸς εὖ κεκλαυμένου.
lal 4
τοσαῦτ᾽ ἀκούσας εἶπον. εἰ δὲ τυγχάνω
τοῖς κυρίοισι καὶ προσήκουσιν λέγων
> 3 \ / » ᾽ Ν »Ὸ 7
οὐκ οἶδα, τὸν τεκόντα δ᾽ εἰκὸς εἰδέναι.
x? , : an /
ol y@, κατ᾽ ἄκρας νηλεῶς πορθούμεθα.
s / a J > /
ὦ δυσπάλαιστε τῶνδε δωμάτων apd,
€ / 5 > Lal > \ 3 /
ὡς πόλλ᾽ ἐπωπᾷς κακποδὼν εὖ κείμενα,
/ Ν᾽ /
τόξοις πρόσωθεν εὐσκόποις χειρουμένη,
na /
φίλων ἀποψιλοῖς με THY παναθλίαν.
> \ \ 9S / am > /
ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ξένοισιν ὧδ᾽ εὐδαίμοσι
a “ / ΕΝ v
κεδνῶν ἕκατι πραγμάτων av ἤθελον
/ n
γνωστὸς γενέσθαι καὶ ξενωθῆναι" τί γάρ;
οὔτοι κυρήσεις μεῖον ἀξίων σέθεν,
3.5.0 9. @ xX / / ,
οὐδ᾽ ἧσσον ἂν γένοιο δώμασιν φίλος.
7. / ἊΝ Ἅ a
ἄλλος δ᾽ ὁμοίως ἦλθεν ἂν τάδ᾽ ἀγγελῶν.
3 > wv a? Pe \ e / /
ἀλλ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὁ καιρὸς ἡμερεύοντας ξένους
an / / Ν Lf
μακρᾶς κελεύθου τυγχάνειν TA πρόσφορα.
λας; 2 \ > > lal ΕῚ / /
ay αὐτὸν εἰς ἀνδρῶνας εὐξένους δόμων,
U /
ὀπισθόπους τε τούσδε καὶ ξυνεμπόρους"

305

310

315

320

325

98 THE CHOEPHORI

Let them receive there what beseems our house.
I warn you, for their comfort you must answer.
This news meanwhile we will impart to those
Who bear rule here. Having no lack of friends,
We will take counsel on this sad event.

Ch.

O reverend Earth, O reverend mound,

Thou that beneath thee coverest the outworn
Dust of the armed fleet’s kingly commander,
Deign now to hearken, deign to give succour.
Now is the hour when guileful Deceit

Must enter to aid us, and Chthonian Hermes,
Patron of stealth, stand sentinel over

This deadly encounter of sword-blades.

Our traveller, it seems, is working mischief.
Yonder I see Orestes’ nurse in tears.

Where are you going, Kilissa, through the gates,
With grief to bear you company unhired?

NURSE

The mistress bids me summon Aegisthus home
As quick as may be, to meet these stranger guests,
And learn more certainly as man from man

This new-told rumour—while before her servants
Behind eyes of pretended gloom she hides

A laugh at work done excellently well

For her, but miserably for this house,

Hearing the tale these strangers told so plain.
That heart of his I warrant will be glad

When he has learnt their story. Wellaway!

All other troubles patiently I bore:

But dear Orestes, the babe I spent my soul on,

THE CHOEPHORI 99

κἀκεῖ κυρούντων δώμασιν τὰ πρόσφορα.

αἰνῶ δὲ πράσσειν ὡς ὑπευθύνῳ τάδε.

ἡμεῖς δὲ ταῦτα τοῖς κρατοῦσι δωμάτων
κοινώσομέν τε KOU σπανίζοντες φίλων
βουλευσόμεσθα τῆσδε συμφορᾶς πέρι. 340

9. , \ \ ΄ ἌΝ \
ὦ πότνια χθὼν Kal πότνι᾽ ἀκτὴ
χώματος, ἣ νῦν ἐπὶ ναυάρχῳ
σώματι κεῖσαι τῷ βασιλείῳ,
νῦν ἐπάκουσον, νῦν ἐπάρηξον"
νῦν γὰρ ἀκμάζει Πειθὼ δολίαν 345
ξυγκαταβῆναι, χθόνιον δ᾽ “Epuhy
καὶ τὸν νύχιον τοῖσδ᾽ ἐφορεῦσαι
7 5 A
ξιφοδηλήτοισιν ἀγῶσιν.

Μ e \ ξ / / /
ἔοικεν ἁνὴρ ὁ ξένος τεύχειν κακόν"
/ Ἐ a
τροφὸν δ᾽ Opéatov τήνδ᾽ ὁρῶ κεκλαυμένην. 350
lal lal ,
ποῖ δὴ πατεῖς, Κίλισσα, δωμάτων πύλας ;
/ SS , 5 ,ὔ
λύπη δ᾽ ἀμισθός ἐστί σοι ξυνέμπορος.

ΤΡΟΦΟΣ

Αἴγισθον ἡ κρατοῦσα τοῖς ξένοις καλεῖν
ὅπως τάχιστ᾽ ἄνωγεν, ὡς σαφέστερον
’ \ , » ᾽ \ \ / ΄
ἀνὴρ ἀπ᾽ ἀνδρὸς τὴν νεάγγελτον φάτιν 355
> \ / ys \ \ > ,
ἐλθὼν πύθηται τήνδε, πρὸς μὲν οἰκέτας
θετοσκυθρωπών ἐντὸς ὀμμάτων γέλων
κεύθουσ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἔργοις διαπεπραγμένοις καλῶς
κείνῃ, δόμοις δὲ τοῖσδε πωαγκάκως ἔχει,
, Cs Le Sens, - v e / fal
φήμης VP ἧς ἤγγειλαν οἱ ξένοι Topas. 360
ἢ δὴ κλύων ἐκεῖνος εὐφρανεῖ νόον,
a > KR ΄ A 5 7 >> ᾿
εὖτ᾽ ἂν πύθηται μῦθον. ὦ τάλαιν᾽ ἐγώ"
\ \ \ Μ , v ,
τὰ μὲν yap ἄλλα τλημόνως ἤντλουν κακα"
φίλον δ᾽ ᾽᾿Ορέστην, τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς τριβήν,
7—2

100 THE CHOEPHORI

Whom straight from his mother’s womb I took to
nurse...

And then those shrill cries summoning me by night,

And all those weary tasks, mere trouble wasted

They were: for a senseless thing one needs must nurse

Like a dumb beast—how else—? by humouring it.

The cry of a boy in swaddlings tells you nothing,

Whether hunger, thirst or wanting to make water

Grips him: a child’s young body will have its way.

These wants I would forecast; but often, it may be,

Would guess wrong, and so have to cleanse his linen,

Laundress and nurse reckoning as one office.

Aye, these two handicrafts both fell to me,

When I received Orestes from his father.

Now, woe is me! [I learn that he is dead.

So I must fetch the man who has brought this house

To ruin. Glad will he be to hear my tale.

. Tell us, how does she bid him come arrayed?

. “Arrayed?”’ Speak plain. I understand you not.
. Whether with escort, or may be alone?

. She bids him bring a bodyguard of spearmen.

. Bear no such message then to our hated master,

But bid him come alone, that he may hear
Without alarm, at once, with cheerful heart.

. Can you be looking kindly on these tidings?

. But what if Zeus should change ill winds to fair?

. How, when Orestes, hope of the house, is gone?

. Not yet. A seer of small skill might know that.

. What! Know you aught outside what has been told?
. Go, take thy message. Do as thou wert charged.

That which concerns the Gods is their concern.

. Well, I will go, following thy advice.

May it prove all for the best by the Gods’ grace.

THE CHOEPHORI

ἃ , /
ov ἐξέθρεψα μητρόθεν Sedeypéevn,—
κἀκ νυκτιπιλάγκτων ὀρθίων κελευμάτων
\ \ 7 5 / >
καὶ πολλὰ Kal μοχθήρ᾽ ἀνωφέλητ᾽ ἐμοὶ
λάσῃ"---τὸ μὴ φρονοῦν γὰρ ὡσπερεὶ βοτὸν
τλαάσῃ"---τὸ μὴ φρονοῦν γὰρ ρ ὸ
/ ᾽ / Gee Ἁ lj / /
τρέφειν ἀνάγκη, TOS yap οὔ; τρόπῳ φρενός"
᾽ - lal 5) δ ,
οὐ γάρ τι φωνεῖ παῖς ἔτ᾽ ὧν ἐν σπαργάνοις,
Ἂ , / xX Me
ἢ λιμός, ἢ δίψ᾽ εἴ τις, ἢ χυψουρία
, v
ἔχει" νέα δὲ νηδὺς αὐτάρκης τέκνων.
΄ , Ss \ 3 7
τούτων πρόμαντις οὖσα, πολλὰ δ᾽, οἴομαι,
val \
ψευσθεῖσα, παιδὸς σπαργάνων φαιδρύντρια,
\ / 5 \ > fe A
κναφεὺς τροφεύς TE ταὐτὸν εἰχέτην τέλος.
ἐγὼ διπλᾶς δὲ τάσδε χειρωναξίας
ΝΜ =) ») / 5 , /
ἔχουσ᾽ ᾿Ορέστην ἐξεδεξάμην πατρί"
, ἴω /
τεθνηκότος δὲ νῦν τάλαινα πεύθομαι.
/ yee) De Ὁ lal /
στείχω δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἄνδρα τῶνδε λυμαντήριον
r / f ,
οἴκων, θέλων δὲ τόνδε πεύσεται λόγον.
πώς οὖν κελεύει νιν μολεῖν ἐσταλμένον;
/ [4] / > 3 id U /
τί πῶς; λέγ᾽ αὖθις, ὡς μάθω σαφέστερον.
> \ , oy \ n
εἰ ξὺν λοχίταις εἴτε καὶ μονοστιβῆ.
Ψ fi , 5 ,
ἄγειν κελεύει δορυφόρους ὀπάονας.
/ \ a” SF , ,
μή νυν σὺ ταῦτ᾽ ἄγγελλε δεσπότου στύγει"
5 al /
ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸν ἐλθεῖν, ὡς ἀδειμάντως κλύῃ,
ΝΜ > / / ,
ἄνωχθ᾽ ὅσον τάχιστα γηθούσῃ φρενί.
> “pes fal 3 ra nr > /
ἀλλ᾽ ἡ φρονεῖς εὖ τοῖσι νῦν ἠγγελμένοις ;
5 3 5 / \ an 4 /
ἀλλ᾽ εἰ τροπαίαν Ζεὺς κακῶν θήσει ποτέ.
\ n > f Ε \ yo Ὰ
καὶ πῶς ; ᾿Ορέστης ἐλπὶς οἴχεται δόμων.
Yj / 5)
οὔπω" κακός γε μάντις ἂν γνοίη τάδε.
V4 / » n / /
τί φής; ἔχεις TL TOV λελεγμένων δίχα;
” 2 aw “ > VA
aYyYEAX ἐοῦσα, πρᾶσσε ταπεσταλμένα.
s a e x Α͂ /
μέλει θεοῖσιν ὧνπερ ἂν μέλῃ πέρι.
> > 3 \ a ἴον / /
αλλ, εἰμι καὶ σοῖς ταῦτα πείσομαι NOYOLS.
/ >] Γι: v \ lal /
γένοιτο δ᾽ ὡς ἄριστα σὺν θεῶν δόσει.

IOI

395

370

380

385

390

395

Ch.

Ae.

Ch.

102 THE CHOEPHORI

O reverend Earth, O reverend mound,

Thou that beneath thee coverest the outworn
Dust of the armed fleet’s kingly commander,
Deign now to hearken, deign to give succour.
Now is the hour when guileful Deceit

Must enter to aid us, and Chthonian Hermes,
Patron of stealth, stand sentinel over

This deadly encounter of sword-blades.

AEGISTHUS
I am come in answer to a summoning message.
A strange tale has been brought, so I am told,
By travellers, news of no pleasant sort.
Orestes’ death—a horror-dripping burden
Would that prove, were it too laid on this house

Already mauled and festering with past bloodshed.

What should I think? Is it the living truth?
Or else mere talk, begotten of women’s fears,
That leaps into the air to die in smoke?

Can you say aught to clear my mind of doubt?
We heard indeed—But go in to the strangers,
And ask of them. No messenger so sure

As to enquire oneself of him who knows.

This messenger I must see and question further,
Whether he was present at the death himself,
Or from some phantom rumour learnt his tale.
Be sure they shall not cheat a clear-eyed mind.

Zeus, Zeus, what speech shall I find? Whence now
Shall begin my fervent prayer to thy Godhead?
How in loyal zeal

Give utterance due to my longing?

For now is the hour when either the blood-stained

Xo.

THE CHOEPHORI 103

Ss / \ Ν' / > > \
ὦ πότνια χθὼν Kal πότνι᾽ ἀκτὴ
χώματος, ἣ νῦν ἐπὶ ναυάρχῳ
σώματι κεῖσαι τῷ βασιλείῳ, 400
νῦν ἐπάκουσον, νῦν ἐπάρηξον"
νῦν γὰρ ἀκμάζει eda δολίαν
a / fol
ξυγκαταβῆναι, χθόνιον δ᾽ “᾿ρμῆν
a eb] fal
Kal τὸν νύχιον τοῖσδ᾽ ἐφορεῦσαι
/ > a
ξιφοδηλήτοισιν ἀγῶσιν. 405

AITIS005
ἥκω μὲν οὐκ ἄκλητος, ἀλλ᾽ ὑπάγγελος"
R / \ / / \
νέαν φάτιν δὲ πεύθομαι λέγειν τινὰς
/ / > nr > ,
ξένους μολόντας οὐδαμῶς ἐφίμερον,
/ a) , \ / > > / /
μόρον δ᾽ ᾿Ορέστου. καὶ τόδ᾽ ἀμφέρειν δόμοις
γένοιτ᾽ ἂν ἄχθος αἱματοσταγὲς φόνῳ 4το
D πρόσθεν ἑλκαίνουσι καὶ δεδηγμέ
τῷ πρόσθεν ἑλκαίνουσι καὶ δεδηγμένοις.
a Ais: nr vs
πῶς ταῦτ᾽ ἀληθῆ καὶ βλέποντα δοξάσω;
ἢ πρὸς γυναικῶν δειματούμενοι λόγοι
πεδάρσιοι θρῴσκουσι, θνήσκοντος μάτην;
/ fal 7 oN Vv “ an ,
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἂν εἴποις ὥστε δηλῶσαι φρενί; 415

Χο. ἠκούσαμεν μέν, πυνθάνου δὲ τῶν ξένων

Αι.

Χο.

εἴσω παρελθών. οὐδὲν ἀγγέλων σθένος

G > ‘ >) > Ν + / ,

ὡς αὐτόσ᾽ αὐτὸν ἄνδρα πεύθεσθαι πέρι.

ἰδεῖν ἐλέγξαι T αὖ θέλω τὸν ἄγγελον,

εἴτ᾽ αὐτὸς nv θνήσκοντος ἐγγύθεν παρών, 420
nr / ΄

εἴτ᾽ ἐξ ἀμαυρᾶς κληδόνος λέγει μαθών.

” Lie Nea / > ΄
οὔτοι φρέν ἂν κλέψειεν ὠμματωμενην.

lal fal / 7
Ζεῦ Ζεῦ, τί λέγω, πόθεν ἄρξωμαι
ANS) Σ / > / ᾽
τάδ᾽ ἐπευχομένη κἀπιθεάζουσ᾽,
ὑπὸ δ᾽ εὐνοίας 425
fal lal , >
πῶς ἴσον εἰποῦσ᾽ ἀνύσωμαι;
νῦν γὰρ μέλλουσι μιανθεῖσαι

Ae.
Ch.

Cl.

Ser.

ΟἹ.

104 THE CHOEPHORI

Edges of cleaving man-slaying sword-blades

Must utterly whelm in destruction the house

Of great Agamemnon for all time;

Or else he, kindling a fire and a light

For the cause of freedom and lawful rule,

Shall win the great wealth of his fathers.

Such now is the prize for which, one against two,

Our heaven-guided champion Orestes

Must wrestle. Oh yet may he conquer.

(within). Eh! Eh! Otototoi!

Ah! What is it?

How is it now? How doth Fate crown the event?

Stand we aside while the issue is in doubt,

That so we may seem blameless of these woes.

For ’tis by the sword the verdict must be sealed.
SERVANT

Woe is me! Utter woe! My lord is slain.

Woe yet once more, a third last farewell cry!

Aegisthus is no more. But open, open,

And with all speed. Unbar the women’s gates. _

Draw the bolts. And right lusty hands are needed—

Though not to help the dead—what use were that?

Τοῦ! Τοῦ!

I am shouting to the deaf and wasting words

On idle sleepers. Where is Clytaemnestra?

What doth she? Her own neck is like to fall

Beside the block beneath the stroke of Justice.

What is it now? What clamour are you raising?

The dead, I tell you, are murdering the living.

Ay me! I read the purport of your riddle.

Even as by craft we slew, so must we perish.

Haste, someone, give me a man-destroying axe.

Ac.
Xo.

THE CHOEPHORI

\ / > of.
πειραὶ κοπάνων ἀνδροδαΐκτων
Xx / / >) /
ἢ πάνυ θήσειν ᾿Αγαμεμνονίων
"» » \ ,
οἴκων ὄλεθρον διὰ παντός,
Ἂ A \ a ,
ἢ πῦρ Kal φῶς ἐπ᾽ ἐλευθερίᾳ
/
δαίων ἀρχάς Te πολισσονόμους
πατέρων θ᾽ ἕξει μέγαν ὄλβον.
, ΄ / as ”
τοιάνδε πάλην μόνος ὧν ἔφεδρος
δισσοῖς μέλλει θεῖος ᾿᾽᾿Ορέστης
ted » Soe NN ,ὔ
ἅψειν. εἴη δ᾽ ἐπὶ νίκῃ.
/ -“
ἐή, ὀτοτοτοῖ.
», ΝΜ 4
€a €a μάλα"
“ lal /
TOS ἔχει; πῶς κέκρανται δόμοις;
’ lal
ἀποσταθῶμεν πράγματος τελουμένου,
, n an > A
ὅπως δοκῶμεν τῶνδ᾽ ἀναίτιαι κακῶν
. \ \
εἶναι: μάχης yap δὴ κεκύρωται τέλος.
OIKETZ
ΝΜ / f /
οἴμοι, πανοίμοι δεσπότου πεπληγμένου"
»Μ / 3 S > / /
οἴμοι μάλ᾽ αὖθις ἐν τρίτοις προσφθέγμασιν.
Αἴγισθος οὐκέτ᾽ ἔστιν. ἀλλ᾽ ἀνοίξατε
ὅπως τάχιστα, καὶ γυναικείους πύλας
μοχλοῖς χαλᾶτε: καὶ μάλ᾽ ἡβῶντος δὲ δεῖ,
y a ΄ 7,
οὐχ ὥστ᾽ ἀρῆξαι διαπεπραγμένῳ" τί γάρ;
ἰοὺ tov.
Lal ν᾿ a \ / /
κωφοῖς ἀυτώ καὶ καθεύδουσιν μάτην
Mv r n
ἄκραντα βάζω. ποῖ Κλυταιμήστρα; τί δρᾷ;
Μ lal fel
ἔοικε νῦν αὐτῆς ἐπιξήνου πέλας
nr ,
αὐχὴν πεσεῖσθαι πρὸς δίκην πεπληγμένος.
/ ees ἈΝ n , \ “ /
τί δ᾽ ἐστὶ χρῆμα; τίνα βοὴν ἵστης δόμοις ;
Ν rn , /
τὸν ζῶντα καίνειν τοὺς τεθνηκότας λέγω.
οἱ ᾽χώ. ξυνῆκα τοὔπος ἐξ αἰνιγμάτων.
/ > 4 > [ Ss 3 /
δόλοις ὀλούμεθ᾽, ὥσπερ οὖν ἐκτείναμεν.
δοίη τις ἀνδροκμῆτα πέλεκυν ὡς τάχος"

105

430

435

440

445

450

455

Or.

106 THE CHOEPHORI

Let us know if we are conquerors or conquered.
To such a pass this woeful way has brought me.

. Tis thee I seek. For him, it is enough.
. Ah me, beloved Aegisthus! Art thou dead?
. Thou lovest the man? Why then in the same grave

Shalt thou lie, ne’er to abandon him in death.

1. Forbear, my son. Reverence this, dear child,

This breast at which thou oft, slumbering the while,
Didst suck with toothless gums the fostering milk.
How, Pylades? Should awe make me spare my

mother?

PYLADES

Who then will heed henceforth the voice of Loxias,
His Pythian oracles, aye and the faith of oaths?
Rather hold all men enemies than the Gods.
I approve thy sentence. Well dost thou exhort me.
Come now. I mean to slay you at yon man’s side.
In his life you deemed him better than my sire;
Sleep with him then in death; since he is the man
You love, and him you should have loved, you hate.

_I reared thee, and with thee would I grow old.

. My father’s murderess, wouldst thou share my home?
. Nay, child, the blame in part must lie with Fate.
. Then this doom also Fate has brought to pass.

_ Hast thou no awe, child, of a parent’s curse?

ΠΑ mother’s, who could cast me forth to misery.

. To a friendly house! That was no casting forth.
. Foully was I sold, I, son of a free sire.

_ Where is the price then I received for thee?

_ That taunt for shame I cannot plainly utter.

. Nay, but speak likewise of thy father’s follies.

THE CHOEPHORI 107

> fal > fal xX ,
εἰδῶμεν εἰ νικῶμεν, ἢ νικώμεθα.
ἐνταῦθα γὰρ δὴ τοῦδ᾽ ἀφικόμην κακοῦ. 460

\ \ / “Ὁ ᾽ , 4 ἍΜ.
σὲ καὶ ματεύω: τῷδε δ᾽ ἀρκούντως ἔχει.
οἱ ᾽γώ. τέθνηκας, φίλτατ᾽ Αἰγίσθου βία.

a 5 Ψ x ’ > “Ὁ ,
φιλεῖς τὸν ἄνδρα; τοιγὰρ ἐν ταὐτῷ τάφῳ
κείσει. θανόντα δ᾽ οὔτι μὴ προδῷς ποτε.

5 / = lal / J ” /

ἐπίσχες, ὦ παῖ, τόνδε δ᾽ αἴδεσαι, τέκνον, 465
μαστόν, πρὸς ᾧ σὺ πολλὰ δὴ βρίζων ἅμα
οὔλοισιν ἐξήμελξας εὐτραφὲς γάλα.

Πυλάδη, τί δράσω; μητέρ᾽ αἰδεσθῶ κτανεῖν ;

ΠΥΛΑΔΗΣ

lal \ \ fe
ποῦ δὴ Ta λοιπὰ Λοξίου μαντεύματα
\ LA / ᾽
τὰ πυθόχρηστα, πιστά T εὐορκώματα; 470
a > \ A a id na /
ἅπαντας ἐχθροὺς τῶν θεῶν ἡγοῦ πλέον.
/ nr na fal
κρίνω σὲ νικᾶν, καὶ παραινεῖς μοι καλῶς.
\
ἕπου, πρὸς αὐτὸν τόνδε σὲ σφάξαι θέλω.
an / > ,
καὶ ζῶντα γάρ νιν κρείσσον᾽ ἡγήσω πατρὸς"
/ lal f “
τούτῳ θανοῦσα ξυγκάθευδ᾽, ἐπεὶ φιλεῖς 475
\ ” “ a sees a a a
τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον, ὃν δ᾽ ἐχρῆν φιλεῖν στυγεῖς,

. ἐγώ σ᾽ ἔθρεψα, σὺν δὲ ynpavat θέλω.

πατροκτονοῦσω γὰρ ξυνοικήσεις ἐμοί;
ἡ Μοῖρα τούτων, ὦ τέκνον, παραιτία.
\ / , an? ’ / /
καὶ τόνδε τοίνυν Moip’ ἐπόρσυνεν μόρον. 480
οὐδὲν σεβίζει γενεθλίους ἀράς, τέκνον;
τεκοῦσα γάρ μ᾽ ἔρριψας ἐς τὸ δυστυχές.
Μ 5 > / Sys / ,
οὔτοι σ᾽ ἀπέρριψ᾽ és δόμους δορυξένους.
αἰσχρῶς ἐπράθην ὧν ἐλευθέρου πατρός.

la) gi fare - 5
. ποῦ δῆθ᾽ ὁ τῖμος, ὅντιν᾽ ἀντεδεξάμην ; 485
/ nr? fal
. αἰσχύνομαί σοι τοῦτ᾽ ὀνειδίσαι σαφῶς.

> > Vig Fe / \ \ a a /
ἀλλ᾽ εἴφ ομοίως καὶ πατρὸς τοῦ σοὺ ματας.

108 THE CHOEPHORI

. Idling at home, censure not him who toils.

. Tis grief for a woman, child, to lack a mate.

. Yet man’s labour maintains her in idleness.

. Thou meanest then, my child, to slay thy mother.

. Tis thou wilt be thine own slayer, not I.

. Look to it! Beware the hounds of a mother’s fury.

. How escape my father’s, if I shirk this task?

. Words then are vain as a dirge to a dead tomb.

y. Vain, for my sire’s fate brings his doom upon thee.

. Aye me! This is the snake I bare and suckled.

. Yes, a true prophet was that dream-born terror.

You slew whom you ought not: suffer what you
should not.

. As upon Priam’s sons punishment came at last,
Heavily fraught with doom,

So to the royal house of Agamemnon came

A twofold lion, a twofold sword;

Yea to the utmost end

The Pytho-crowned fugitive,

Sped by the voice divine, his race now has run.

Utter a cry of joy, now that our master’s house
Thus hath escaped its woes, yea and the waste of
By an unclean and guilty pair— [wealth
A hard, weary road!

Now upon him who loved treacherous fight, is come
Cunningly plotted doom.

And in the strife ’twas she guided aright his hand,
The veritable child of Zeus:

Justice the name whereby

She is called by men truthfully.

Deadly the wrath she breathes against those she hates.

THE CHOEPHORI

Sed: \ lol + ee /
. μὴ λεγχε TOV πονοῦντ᾽ ἔσω καθημένη.
Μ \ 3 ~ Μ /
. ἄλγος γυναιξὶν ἀνδρὸς εἴργεσθαι, τέκνον.
,ὕ ΣΟῚ ‘ ΄, νὰ ”
. τρέφει δέ γ᾽ ἀνδρὸς μόχθος ἡμένας ἔσω.
. κτενεῖν ἔοικας, ὦ τέκνον, τὴν μητέρα.
. σύ τοι σεαυτήν, οὐκ ἐγώ, κατακτενεῖς.
A 4 \ > if /
. Opa, φύλαξαι μητρὸς ἐγκότους κύνας.
\ ἴω \ A lal / \ U
. τὰς TOD πατρὸς δὲ πῶς φύγω, παρεὶς τάδε;
Μ - tal \ / ,
. ἔοικα θρηνεῖν ζῶσα πρὸς τύμβον μάτην.
\ \ Ψ. / αν, ,
. πατρὸς yap αἶσα τόνδε σῴρίζει μόρον.

. οὗ ᾽γὼ τεκοῦσα τόνδ᾽ ὄφιν ἐθρεψάμην.

> , ͵ ε » ΄ /
ἢ κάρτα μάντις ove ὀνειράτων φόβος.
ἔκανες ὃν οὐ χρῆν, καὶ τὸ μὴ χρεὼν πάθε.

ἔμολε μὲν δίκα ἸΤριαμίδαις χρόνῳ,
βαρύδικος ποινά"

ἔμολε δ᾽ ἐς δόμον τὸν ᾿Αγαμέμνονος
διπλοῦς λέων, διπλοῦς "Αρης.
ἔλασε δ᾽ ἐς τὸ πᾶν

ὁ πυθόχρηστος φυγὰς

θεόθεν εὖ φραδαῖσιν ὡρμημένος.

ἐπολολύξατ᾽ ὦ δεσποσύνων δόμων
ἀναφυγὰς κακῶν καὶ κτεάνων τριβᾶς
ὑπὸ δυοῖν μιαστύροιν,

δυσοίμου τύχας.

ἔμολε δ᾽ ᾧ μέλει κρυπταδίου μάχας
δολιόφρων ποινά"'

ἔθιγε δ᾽ ἐν μάχᾳ χερὸς ἐτήτυμος

Διὸς κόρα-- Δίκαν δέ νιν

προσαγορεύομεν βροτοὶ τυχόντες καλῶς -
ὀλέθριον πνέουσ᾽ ἐν ἐχθροῖς κότον"

109

490

495

500

505

510

515

IIo THE CHOEPHORI

Kindled is now the light: gone is the mighty curb
Holding the house in thrall.

Up then, arise, ye halls! Grovelling on the ground
Too long have ye been lying.

Or. Behold this twofold tyranny of our land,
They that slew the father and despoiled the house.
Stately they were once, seated on their thrones,
And loving even now, as from their plight
Is manifest. True to its pledge their oath still stands.
Both swore my father’s murder, and to die
Together. That too has been faithfully kept.
Behold too, ye that judge these deeds of woe,
The snare wherewith my unhappy sire was bound,
For his hands a fetter, for his feet a trap.
Open it out, and standing round, display
This man-enwrapping sheet, that so the Father,
Not mine, but he whose eye sees all things here,
The sun, may behold my mother’s unclean work,
And some day at my trial may appear
To witness that I wrought this slaying justly,
My mother’s, (for Aegisthus’ death I count not:
His the seducer’s penalty by law:)
But she who planned this horror against her lord,
Whose children she had borne beneath her girdle,
That once dear burden, proved now a deadly foe,
What think you of her? Were she sea-snake or viper,
Her touch would rot another’s flesh unbitten,
If cruelty and wicked will could do it.
What can I name it, speak I ne’er so mildly?
A trap for a beast? Or else a coffin-cloth
To wrap the feet of a corpse? Nay, ’tis a net:

THE CHOEPHORI 1ΠῚ

- - , » ᾽
πάρα τὸ φῶς ἰδεῖν. μέγα T ἀφηρέθη
ψάλιον οἰκετῶν,
ΝΜ \ / \ v f
ἄναγε μὰν δόμοι: πολὺν ἄγαν χρόνον
χαμαιπετεῖς ἔκεισθε. 520

a /
ἴδεσθε χώρας τὴν διπλῆν τυραννίδα
πατροκτόνους τε δωμάτων πορθήτορας.
σεμνοὶ μὲν ἦσαν ἐν θρόνοις τόθ᾽ ἥμενοι,
, \ \ a e > ΄ ΄
φίλοι δὲ καὶ νῦν, ὡς ἐπεικάσαι πάθη
‘ δ ,
πάρεστιν, ὅρκος T ἐμμένει πιστώμασι. 525
ξυνώμοσαν μὲν θάνατον ἀθλίῳ πατρὶ
\ aA \ mm» oa] ”
καὶ ξυνθανεῖσθαι" καὶ Tad evopKas ἔχει.
Μ > τὸ lal > Pe / a
ἴδεσθε δ᾽ αὖτε, τῶνδ᾽ ἐπήκοοι κακῶν,
Ν , \ 5 , Ud
TO μηχάνημα, δεσμὸν αθλίῳ πατρί,
/ na \ a ΄
πέδας τε χειροῖν καὶ ποδοῖν ξυνωρίδα. 530
/
ἐκτείνατ᾽ αὐτὸ καὶ κύκλῳ παρασταδὸν
£ ’ \ / Ἰ e BA /
στέγαστρον ἀνδρὸς δείξαθ᾽, ὡς ἴδῃ πατήρ,
> ς , > A 1 U J. , ,
οὐχ οὑμός, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ πάντ᾽ ἐποπτεύων τάδε
"H ” \ γ΄ “ > fol
Alos, dvayva μητρὸς ἔργα τῆς ἐμῆς,
> a / /
ὡς ἂν παρῇ μοι μάρτυς ἐν δίκῃ ποτέ, 535
e , > 39 \ fol 5 /
ὡς τόνδ᾽ ἐγὼ μετῆλθον ἐνδίκως μόρον
\ 1 39. ἡ \ ΕΣ ΄ /
Tov μητρός: Αἰγίσθου yap ov λέγω μόρον"
, n /
ἔχει yap αἰσχυντῆρος, ὡς νόμος, δίκην"
dA > b ’ 9 \ te) = Pe} > / /
ἥτις δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀνδρὶ TOUT ἐμήσατο στύγος,
> ΑΒ / + pt \ / ,
ἐξ οὗ τέκνων ἤνεγχ᾽ ὑπὸ ζώνην βάρος, 540
, / lal » 3 / ΄ , /
φίλον τέως, νῦν δ᾽ ἐχθρόν, ὡς φαίνει, κακόν,
/ - Ul / 2 " 5 ΓΚ, >»
τί σοι δοκεῖ; μύραινά γ᾽ εἴτ᾽ ἔχιδν᾽ ἔφυ
σήπειν θιγοῦσ᾽ ἂν ἄλλον οὐ δεδηγμένον
/ A , / /
τόλμης ἕκατι κἀκδίκου φρονήματος.
, ,ὔ -
τί νιν προσείπω, κἂν τύχω μάλ᾽ εὐστομῶν;
ΝΜ > nA /
ἄγρευμα θηρός, ἢ νεκροῦ ποδένδυτον 546
δροίτης κατασκήνωμα; δίκτυον μὲν οὖν,

Ch.

112 THE CHOEPHORI

Toils you might say, or long foot-trammelling robes;
Just such a thing some cozener might contrive,

One who tricks travellers, practising the trade

Of robbery. Many with this knavish snare

Might he destroy, and his heart often glow.

With such a woman never may I share

My home. Sooner let heaven slay me, childless,

Ah me! Ah me! ’Twas a wicked deed.
By a terrible death thou art laid low.
Alas! :

Woe is flowering too for the living.

. Did she the deed, or did she not? I call

This robe to witness, dyed by Aegisthus’ sword.
‘Tis gushing blood that here hath aided time

In spoiling the embroidery’s many hues.

Now can I praise, now wail him where he fell:
And as I address this web that slew my sire,

I grieve for the crime, the penance, the whole race.
Such victory wins not envy, but pollution.

No mortal man may pass through his life
Without scathe, if he pay not in sorrow.

Alas!

Woe must be, to-day or hereafter.

. Now hear me, for I know not how it will end—

Yea, like a driver mastered by his steeds,

My restive wits are whirling me astray

Far from the course; while Terror fain would sing
To my heart, and set her dancing to his tune.

So while I am sane, proclaiming to my friends

I say, with justice did I slay my mother,

My sire’s foul murderess, abhorred of heaven,

THE CHOEPHORI

» MK $y \ a ,
ἄρκυν T ἂν εἴποις καὶ ποδιστῆρας πέπλους.
a 3 /
τοιοῦτον ἂν κτήσαιτο φηλήτης ἀνήρ,
ξένων ἀπαιόλημα κἀργυροστερῆ
/ / a 7 oh /
βίον νομίζων, τῷδέ T ἂν δολώματι
“Ὁ ΄ /
πολλοὺς ἀναιρῶν πολλὰ θερμαίνοι φρένα.
7» > \ z 5 , Ν
τοιάδ᾽ ἐμοὶ ξύνοικος ἐν δόμοισι μὴ
, 3 3 / / > n ”
γένοιτ᾽: ὀλοίμην πρόσθεν ἐκ θεῶν ἄπαις.

3ι- ὃ τὸ σὰ, / »Μ
αἰαΐ αἰαΐ μελέων ἔργων"
στυγερῷ θανάτῳ διεπράχθης.
ᾺἊΝν / Ἅ \ 4 > an
é ἔ, μίμνοντι δὲ καὶ πάθος ἀνθεῖ.

Μ Ὁ > v lal /
ἔδρασεν ἢ οὐκ ἔδρασε; μαρτυρεῖ δέ μοι
φᾶρος τόδ᾽, ὡς ἔβαψεν Αἰγίσθου ξίφος.
φόνου δὲ κηκὶς ξὺν χρόνῳ ξυμβάλλεται,
πολλὰς βαφὰς φθείρουσα τοῦ ποικίλματος.
νῦν αὐτὸν αἰνῶ, νῦν ἀποιμώξω παρών,
πατροκτόνον θ᾽ ὕφασμα προσφωνῶν τόδε
ἀλγῶ μὲν ἔργα καὶ πάθος γένος τε πᾶν,

BA ie lel ΓΚ 4

ἄζηλα νίκης τῆσδ᾽ ἔχων μιάσματα.

οὔτις μερόπων ἀσινῆ βίοτον
διὰ παντὸς ἄνατος ἀμείψει.
ΔΨ » ’ ig Ἂς ᾽ / , 6 S37 1: ὦ
ἐ ἔ, μόχθος δ᾽ ὁ μὲν αὐτίχ᾽, ὁ δ᾽ ἥξει.

ἀλλ᾽ ὡς ἂν εἰδῆτ᾽, οὐ γὰρ οἶδ᾽ ὅπη τελεῖ---
[4 \ vf 6 / /
ὥσπερ ξὺν ἵπποις ἡνιοστρόφον δρόμου
,

ἐξωτέρω φέρουσι γὰρ νικώμενον

Sf / ἂν \ / /
φρένες δύσαρκτοι' πρὸς δὲ καρδίᾳ φόβος
ἄδειν ἕτοιμος ἡ δ᾽ ὑ io? )
᾿ μος ἡ δ᾽ ὑπορχεῖσθαι κότῳ.
“ Sa mee ΟΝ > / 4 /
ἕως δ᾽ ἔτ᾽ ἔμφρων εἰμί, κηρύσσω φίλοις.
κτανεῖν τέ φημι μητέρ᾽ οὐκ ἄνευ δίκης,

/ ’ lal

πατροκτόνον μίασμα καὶ θεῶν στύγος.

113

559

999

560

565

570

Ch.

Or.

Ch.

Or.

Ch.

114 THE CHOEPHORI

And for the spells that nerved me to this deed,
I cite the Pythian oracle of Loxias,

That should I act thus, I were clear of blame,
But if I failed to act—how name the penalty?
So now behold me: furnished with this bough
Enwreathed with wool, a suppliant will I go
To the mid-navel shrine, the home of Loxias,
And to that fire-light, famed imperishable,
Exiled for kindred bloodshed. To no hearth
Save his did Loxias bid me turn for refuge.

A wandering, homeless fugitive, I leave
Behind me, in life or death, such fame as this.
Nay, thou hast done well. Yoke not then thy lips
To ill-omened speech, nor utter boding words.
Ah! Ah!

Bondwomen, see them yonder, Gorgon-like,

In dusky raiment, twined about with coils

Of swarming snakes! I cannot stay here more.

. What fantasies toss thee, dearest of all sons

To a father? Stay: fear nothing. Thou hast vanquished.

. To me these horrors are no fantasies,

But indeed the sleuth-hounds of my mother’s wrath.
’Tis that the blood is yet fresh on thy hands.
Hence the confusion that invades thy soul.

. Sovereign Apollo, yonder they come now thronging!

And from their eyes is dripping a loathsome gore.

. In, in! The purge of Loxias with a touch

Shall free thee from such visionary horrors.

Ye do not see these beings, but I see them.

I am hunted by them. I can stay no more.
Blessings go with thee, and may gracious Gods
Watch over and keep thee safe with happy chance.

ο.

THE CHOEPHORI

fol ’
καὶ φίλτρα τόλμης τῆσδε πλειστηρίζομαι
τὸν πυθόμαντιν Λοξίαν, χρήσαντ᾽ ἐμοὶ
πράξαντι μὲν ταῦτ᾽ ἐκτὸς αἰτίας κακῆς
5 / » » > “ \ /
εἶναι, παρέντα δ᾽ ---οὐκ ἐρῶ τὴν ζημίαν"
καὶ νῦν ὁρᾶτέ μ᾽, ὡς παρεσκευασμένος
\ lal -“ \ , ,
ξὺν τῷδε θαλλῷ Kal στέφει προσίξομαι
μεσόμφαλόν θ᾽ ἵδρυμα, Λοξίου πέδον,
/ , Μ /
πυρός τε φέγγος ἄφθιτον κεκλημένον,
΄ ‘mw _@ , ΣΌΣ ΣΙ» ε ,
φεύγων τόδ᾽ αἷμα κοινόν" οὐδ᾽ ἐφ᾽ ἑστίαν
ἄλλην τραπέσθαι Λοξίας ἐφίετο.
> \ 3 > / fal fol > ,
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀλήτης τῆσδε γῆς ἀπόξενος,
ζῶν καὶ τεθνηκὼς τάσδε κληδόνας λιπών---
ἀλλ᾽ εὖ γ᾽ ἔπραξας, und ἐπιζευχθῆς στόμα
φήμῃ πονηρᾷ μηδ᾽ ἐπυιγχλωσσῶ κακά.
ἂν ἃ.
δὶ - δ, , ,
δμωαὶ γυναῖκες aide Γοργόνων δίκην
“
φαιοχίτωνες καὶ πεπλεκτανημέναι
πυκνοῖς δράκουσιν" οὐκέτ᾽ ἂν μείναιμ᾽ ἐγώ.
/ A , / 5 > , ,
tives σὲ δόξαι, φίλτατ᾽ ἀνθρώπων πατρί,
στροβοῦσιν; ἴσχε, μὴ φοβοῦ, νικῶν πολύ.
οὐκ εἰσὶ δόξαι τῶνδε πημάτων ἐμοί:
a \
σαφῶς yap aide μητρὸς ἔγκοτοι κύνες.
ποταίνιον γὰρ αἷμά σοι χεροῖν ἔτι"
ἐκ τῶνδέ τοι ταραγμὸς ἐς φρένας πίτνει.
ἄναξ "Ἄπολλον, αἵδε πληθύουσι δή,
5» , ,
κἀξ ὀμμάτων στάζουσιν αἷμα δυσφιλές.
= \ , / \ \
εἷς σοὶ καθαρμός: Λοξίας δὲ προσθιγὼν
, - ,
ἐλεύθερόν σε τῶνδε πημάτων κτίσει.
e tal \ > « lal , > > X\ > e °
ὑμεῖς μὲν οὐχ ὁρᾶτε τάσδ᾽, ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὁρῶ"
’ \ > FD HK , ae ,
ἐλαύνομαι δὲ κοὐκέτ᾽ ἂν μείναιμ᾽ ἐγώ.
3 » » ’ / ee [4 ͵
ἀλλ᾽ εὐτυχοίης, καί σ᾽ ἐποπτεύων πρόφρων
θεὸς φυλάσσοι καιρίοισι συμφοραῖς.

8—2

ἜΤΗ

On
[5.2]
ο

On
(o/s)
On

116 THE CHOEPHORI

Thus again for a third time, risen from the race,
Hath a storm swept over

The house of our kings and subsided.

First was the cruel doom of the children

Slain at the banquet.

Next was the anguish of a man, of a king,
When the Achaeans’ warrior chieftain

In the bath fell slain.

Now comes yet a third, a deliverer, nay,
Rather destroyer.

What end shall there be? When shall the fury
Of revenge sink lulled into slumber?

THE CHOEPHORI 117

ὅδε τοι μελάθροις τοῖς βασιλείοις

τρίτος αὖ χειμὼν 610
πνεύσας yovias ἐτελέσθη.

παιδοβόροι μὲν πρῶτον ὑπῆρξαν

μόχθοι τάλανες"

δεύτερον ἀνδρὸς βασίλεια πάθη"

λουτροδάικτος δ᾽ ὥλετ᾽ ᾿Αχαιῶν 615

πολέμαρχος ἀνήρ"

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ τρίτος ἦλθέ ποθεν σωτήρ,

ἢ μόρον εἴπω;

ποῖ δῆτα κρανεῖ, ποῖ καταλήξει
μετακοιμισθὲν μένος ἄτης; 620

THE EUMENIDES

[Before the temple of Apollo at Delphi. Enter the
Pythian PROPHETESS. |
THE PROPHETESS
First of all gods I worship in my prayer
The first diviner Earth; after her Themis,
The second, legend saith, to take her seat
Here in her mother’s shrine. Third in succession,
With her consent, no violence done to any,
Another Titan child of Earth took seat,
Phoebe: who as a birthday gift bestowed it
On Phoebus, bearing a name from her derived.
His mind with divine art did Zeus inspire,
And seated him, fourth prophet, on this throne,
As Loxias, spokesman of his father Zeus.
These gods I worship in my opening prayer.
Pallas our neighbour too I name with reverence.
I adore the Nymphs who haunt the caverned rock
Corycis, loved by birds, by gods frequented.
The springs of Pleistos and Poseidon’s might
I invoke, and Zeus supreme, the crown of all,
Then seat myself as prophetess on my throne.
May they now bless my entrance more than ever
In past days. Let all Hellenes present here
Approach, as custom bids, by fall of lot.
As the God leads me, so do I give response.
[The PROPHETESS enters the shrine, but quickly returns. |
Things terrible to speak, terrible to see,
Have driven me forth again from Loxias’ house.

THE, KUMENIDES

[Before the temple of Apollo at Delphi. Enter the
Pythian PROPHETESS. |
ΠΥΘΙΑΣ

Πρῶτον μὲν εὐχὴ τῇδε πρεσβεύω θεῶν
τὴν πρωτόμαντιν Latav: ἐκ δὲ τῆς Θέμιν,
ἣ δὴ τὸ μητρὸς δευτέρα τόδ᾽ ἕζετο
μαντεῖον, ὡς λόγος τίς" ἐν δὲ τῷ τρίτῳ
λάχει, θελούσης, οὐδὲ πρὸς βίαν τινός, 5
Τιτανὶς ἄλλη παῖς Χθονὸς καθέζετο,
Φοίβη: δίδωσι δ᾽ ἣ γενέθλιον δόσιν
Φοίβῳ - τὸ Φοίβης δ᾽ ὄνομ᾽ ἔχει παρώνυμον.
τέχνης δέ νιν Ζεὺς ἔνθεον κτίσας φρένα
ἵζει τέταρτον τοῖσδε μάντιν ἐν θρόνοις " το
Διὸς προφήτης δ᾽ ἐστὶ Λοξίας πατρός.
τούτους ἐν εὐχαῖς φροιμιάζομαι θεούς.
Παλλὰς προναία δ᾽ ἐν λόγοις πρεσβεύεται.
σέβω δὲ νύμφας, ἔνθα Kwpuxis πέτρα
κοίλη, φίλορνις, δαιμόνων ἀναστροφή" 15
Πλειστοῦ τε πηγὰς καὶ Ἰ]οσειδῶνος κράτος
καλοῦσα καὶ τέλειον ὕψιστον Δία,
ἔπειτα μάντις ἐς θρόνους καθιζάνω.
καὶ νῦν τυχεῖν με τῶν πρὶν εἰσόδων μακρῷ
ἄριστα δοῖεν" Kei παρ᾽ ᾿ Ἑλλήνων τινές, 20
ἴτων πάλῳ λαχόντες, ὡς νομίζεται.
μαντεύομαι γὰρ ὡς ἂν ἡγῆται θεός.

[The PROPHETESS enters the shrine, but quickly returns.]
ἢ δεινὰ λέξαι, δεινὰ δ᾽ ὀφθαλμοῖς Spaxeiv,
πάλιν μ᾽ ἔπεμψεν ἐκ δόμων τῶν Λοξίου,

122 THE EUMENIDES

When I drew near the wreath-decked inmost cell,
Upon the navel-stone I saw a man

Polluted, in a suppliant attitude.

With blood his hands were dripping, and he held
A drawn sword and a high-grown branch of olive,
Humbly enwreathed with a broad band of wool.
Between me and this man a fearful troop

Of women slumbered, seated upon chairs.

Yet not women: Gorgons call them rather.
Dusky they are, and loathsome altogether.

They snore with such blasts none may venture near;
And from their eyes a foul rheum oozes forth.
Their garb is neither fit to approach the statues
Of deities, nor to enter homes of men.

For what may ensue, let mightiest Loxias,

Who is master of this house, himself provide.

He is healing seer and judge of prodigies,

And can purge houses other than his own.

[Exit PROPHETESS. The interior of the shrine is dis-
closed. APOLLO, HERMES, ORESTES and _ the
sleeping FURIES are discovered. |

APOLLO

I shall not fail. To the end will I protect thee.

Near shall I be, even though far away:

Nor will I prove soft to thy enemies.

Awhile thou seest yon raveners subdued.

Lo sunken in sleep the loathly virgins lie,

These hoary ancient maidens, with whom never

Hath any god mingled, nor man, nor beast.

Evil was cause of their creation, evil

The murky pit of Tartarus where they dwell

Abhorred by men and by the Olympian gods.

THE EUMENIDES 123

b] \ \ “ \ fol /
ἐγὼ μὲν ἕρπω πρὸς πολυστεφῆ μυχόν" 25
« fal + te 1 Vege fal x » “
ὁρῶ δ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ὀμφαλῷ μὲν ἄνδρα θεομυσῆ
ἕδραν ἔχοντα προστρόπαιον, αἵματι
στάζοντα χεῖρας καὶ νεοσπαδὲς ξίφος
ἔχοντ᾽ ἐλαίας θ᾽ ὑψιυγέννητον κλάδον,
λήνει μεγίστῳ σωφρόνως ἐστεμμένον, 30
΄ \ ᾽ Ν a \ ,
πρόσθεν δὲ τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε θαυμαστὸς λόχος
εὕδει γυναικῶν ἐν θρόνοισιν ἥμενος.
οὔτοι γυναῖκας, ἀλλὰ Γοργόνας λέγω
ταύτας, μέλαιναι δ᾽ ἐς τὸ πᾶν βδελύκτροποι"
ῥέγκουσι δ᾽ οὐ πλατοῖσι φυσιάμασιν" 35
ἐκ δ᾽ ὀμμάτων λείβουσι δυσφιλῆ λίβα:
καὶ κόσμος οὔτε πρὸς θεῶν ἀγάλματα
φέρειν δίκαιος οὔτ᾽ ἐς ἀνθρώπων στέγας.
> a » lal / U
τἀντεῦθεν ἤδη τῶνδε δεσπότῃ δόμων
> a , / lal
αὐτῷ μελέσθω Λοξίᾳ μεγασθενεῖ. 40
b ,
ἰατρόμαντις δ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ τερασκόπος
\ an γ. , /
Kal τοῖσιν ἄλλοις δωμάτων καθάρσιος.

[Exit PROPHETESS. The interior of the shrine is dis-
closed. ApoLLo, HERMES, ORESTES and _ the
sleeping FURIES are discovered. |

ATIOAAQN

οὔτοι προδώσω" διὰ τέλους δέ σοι φύλαξ
ἐγγὺς παρεστὼς καὶ πρόσω δ᾽ ἀποστατῶν
ἐχθροῖσι τοῖς σοῖς οὐ γενήσομαι πέπων. 45
καὶ νῦν ἁλούσας τάσδε τὰς μάργους ὁρᾷς"
ὕπνῳ πεσοῦσαι δ᾽ αἱ κατάπτυστοι κόραι,
γραῖαι παλαιαὶ παῖδες, αἷς οὐ μίγνυται

θεῶν τις οὐδ᾽ ἄνθρωπος οὐδὲ θήρ ποτε"

κακῶν δ᾽ ἕκατι κἀγένοντ᾽, ἐπεὶ κακὸν 50
σκότον νέμονται Taptapov θ᾽ ὑπὸ χθονός,

΄ὔ , > a \ lal ᾽ /
μισήματ᾽ ἀνδρῶν καὶ θεῶν ᾿Ολυμπίων.

Ap.

124 THE EUMENIDES

Yet do not thou grow faint, but fly far hence:

For they will chase thee across the long mainland,

Ever new soil beneath thy wandering tread,

And beyond seas and past wave-girded towns.

Let not thy heart faint brooding on thy penance,

Till thou take refuge in the city of Pallas

And clasp her ancient image in thy arms.

There before judges of thy cause, with speech

Of soothing power, we will discover means

To set thee free for ever from these woes.

For I did counsel thee to slay thy mother.
ORESTES

Sovereign Apollo, what is just thou knowest:

Now therefore study to neglect it not.

Thy power to succour needs no warranty.

Remember: let not fear subdue thy soul.

And thou, born of one father, my own brother,

Hermes, protect him: prove thy title true

As Guide, by shepherding my suppliant here.

The sanctity of an outlaw Zeus respects,

When thus with prosperous escort he is sped.

[APOLLO vanishes. ORESTES leaves the temple, guided
by HERMES. Enter the GHOST OF CLYTAEMNESTRA. |
GHOST OF CLYTAEMNESTRA
Sleep, would you? Shame! What need of sleepers here?

And I by you thus held in slight regard

Among the other dead, and followed still

By the reproach of murder among the shades,
Yet wronged so foully by my nearest kin,

No spirit power shows wrath on my behalf,
Though slaughtered by the hands of a matricide.
Look now upon these wounds; look with thy soul.

THE EUMENIDES 125

ὅμως δὲ φεῦγε, μηδὲ μαλθακὸς γένῃ,

ἐχῶσι γάρ σε καὶ δι ἠπείρου μακρᾶς

βιβῶντ᾽ av αἰεὶ τὴν πλανοστιβῆ χθόνα 55
ὑπέρ τε πόντον καὶ περιρρύτας πόλεις.

καὶ μὴ πρόκαμνε τόνδε βουκολούμενος

πόνον" μολὼν δὲ Παλλάδος ποτὶ πτόλιν

ἵζου παλαιὸν ἄγκαθεν λαβὼν βρέτας.

κἀκεῖ δικαστὰς τῶνδε καὶ θελκτηρίους 60
μύθους ἔχοντες μηχανὰς εὑρήσομεν

ὥστ᾽ ἐς τὸ πᾶν σε τώνδ᾽ ἀπαλλάξαι πόνων.

καὶ γὰρ κτανεῖν σ᾽ ἔπεισα μητρῷον δέμας.

OPESTHS
ἄναξ "Απολλον, οἶσθα μὲν τὸ μὴ ᾿δικεῖν"
> \ ᾿] 3 / \ \ δ» lal /
ἐπεὶ δ᾽ ἐπίστᾳ, Kal τὸ μὴ ᾿μελεῖν μάθε. 65

σθένος δὲ ποιεῖν εὖ φερέγγυον τὸ σόν.
“ \ / \ ’ Ud
Arr. μέμνησο, μὴ φόβος σὲ νικάτω φρένας.
σὺ δ᾽, αὐτάδελφον αἷμα καὶ κοινοῦ πατρός,
ς n / “ >] a > /
Ερμῆ, φύλασσε" κάρτα δ᾽ ὧν ἐπώνυμος
πομπαῖος ἴσθι, τόνδε ποιμαίνων ἐμὸν 70
(Tey A f \ ὍΣ» , ,
ἱκέτην. σέβει τοι Ζεὺς τόδ᾽ ἐκνόμων σέβας,
ὁρμώμενον βροτοῖσιν εὐπόμπῳ τύχῃ.

[APOLLO vanishes. ORESTES leaves the temple, guided
by HERMES. Enter the GHOST OF CLYTAEMNESTRA:]
KAYTAIMHSTPAS EIAQAON

ef So bt \ n , nr
εὕδοιτ᾽ ἄν, ὠή, καὶ καθευδουσῶν τί δεῖ;
Φ ΤῊΝ Mewes ἢ a enw ? ,
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὑφ᾽ ὑμῶν ὧδ᾽ ἀπητιμασμένη
ἄλλοισιν ἐν νεκροῖσιν, ὧν μὲν ἔκτανον 75
” > lal > > ,
ὄνειδος ἐν φθιτοῖσιν οὐκ ἐκλείπεται,
παθοῦσα δ᾽ οὕτω δεινὰ πρὸς τῶν φιλτάτων,
οὐδεὶς ὑπέρ μου δαιμόνων μηνίεται,
κατασφαγείσης πρὸς χερῶν μητροκτόνων.
ὅρα δὲ πληγὰς τάσδε καρδίᾳ σέθεν" 80

126 THE EUMENIDES

For while it sleeps, the mind is lit with eyes.
Oft indeed of my offerings have you lapped,
Wineless libations, sober soothing draughts,
Dread midnight banquets, when no god but you
Is worshipped, on the altar would I sacrifice.
All this, I see, is spurned beneath your feet.
The man is gone, escaping like a fawn,

Ay, from the very snares’ midst has he sprung
Lightly, making great mouths at you in scorn.
Hear me. ’Tis for my very soul I plead.
Awake, O goddesses of the nether world.

In dream now do I, Clytaemnestra, call you.

CHORUS
(Mutterings.)
Cl. Yes, whimper! But the man is gone, fled far.
Ch. (Mutterings.)
Cl. Too deep you drowse, and pity not my wrong.
Fled is Orestes, who slew me, his mother.
Ch. (Moanings.)
Cl. Whining and drowsing! Come, rise up forthwith.
Ch. (Moanings.)
Cl. Sleep and fatigue, puissant conspirators,
Have spoiled the dreadful dragoness of her might.
Ch. (Mutterings redoubled and louder.)
Follow, follow, follow, follow! Mark there!
Cl. In dream you hunt your prey, and give tongue like
A hound, whose fancy never quits the chase.
What dost thou? Arise! Let not fatigue defeat thee.
Let thy heart wince at merited rebuke,
Which to the righteous is a very goad.
Waft thou thy blood-hot breath upon the man:

THE EUMENIDES

ef \ \ ΕΣ 7
εὕδουσα γὰρ φρὴν ὄμμασιν λαμπρύνεται.
53 ἣν \ fal “-

ἢ πολλὰ μὲν δὴ τῶν ἐμῶν ἐλείξατε,
vA 3 > / / re
χοάς τ ἀοίνους, νηφάλια μειλίγματα,
/ “-“ , ΄
καὶ νυκτίσεμνα δεῖπν᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάρᾳ πυρὸς
»“ [7 » Ν \ fal
ἔθυον, ὥραν οὐδενὸς κοινὴν θεῶν.
a x e an /
Kal πάντα ταῦτα λὰξ ὁρῶ TaTovpeva.

e , / nr
ὁ δ᾽ ἐξαλύξας οἴχεται νεβροῦ δίκην,
καὶ ταῦτα κούφως ἐκ μέσων ἀρκυστάτων
v e lal ᾿] / /
ὠρουσεν ὑμῖν ἐγκατιλλώψας μέγα.
> 4 > ec ΕΣ “ > fol \
axovaal ὡς ἔλεξα τῆς ἐμῆς περὶ

“-“ , , 53 \ ἈΝ /
ψυχῆς, φρονήσατ᾽, ὦ κατὰ χθονὸς θεαί.
\ na a rn
ὄναρ yap ὑμᾶς νῦν Κλυταιμήστρα καλῶ.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
(μυγμός.)

Z ot Ww, CN δ᾽ " / /
. μύζοιτ᾽ av, ἁνὴρ δ᾽ οἴχεται φεύγων πρόσω.

(μυγμός.)

” ς , > / /
. ἄγαν ὑπνώσσεις κοὐ κατοικτίζεις πάθος"

φονεὺς δ᾽ ᾿ΝΟρέστης τῆσδε μητρὸς οἴχεται.
(ὠγμός.)
ὦζεις, ὑπνώσσεις" οὐκ ἀναστήσει τάχος;
(ὠγμός.)

/ /
. ὕπνος πόνος TE κύριοι συνωμόται

δεινῆς δρακαίνης ἐξεκήραναν μένος.
(μυγμὸς διπλοῦς ὀξύς.)
λαβὲ λαβὲ λαβὲ λαβέ, φράζου.

. ὄναρ διώκεις θῆρα, κλαγγαίνεις δ᾽ ἅπερ

/ , ’ / /
κύων μέριμναν οὔποτ᾽ ἐκλείπων πόνου.
Ὁ / / /
τί Spas; ἀνίστω, μή σε νικάτω πόνος.
”. e > / > /
ἄλγησον ἧπαρ ἐνδίκοις ὀνείδεσιν"
4 / \ / /
τοῖς σώφροσιν yap ἀντίκεντρα γίγνεται.
σὺ δ᾽ αἱματηρὸν πνεῦμ᾽ ἐπουρίσασα τῷ,

127

I0o

Ch.

Ap.

128 THE EUMENIDES

Shrivel him with thy belly’s fiery blast.
Follow him; wither him with a fresh pursuit.

[Exit the GHOST OF CLYTAEMNESTRA. |

Awake !—Do thou wake hey—while I wake thee.
Dost thou sleep? Rise; and spurning sleep afar,
Let us see if this warning dream prove false.

Behold! Behold! Oh shame! See, we have suffered
wrong!

Much painful toil have I endured, and all in vain.

Bitter indeed the wrong done to us. Oh the shame!

Defeat hard to bear! {is gone.

Our game has slipped right through the meshes, and

By sleep subdued, lo! I have lost, lost the prey.

[APOLLO re-appears. |

Aha, son of Zeus! Thou art a thief, and knave.
Thy youth rides trampling over elder deities.

What is thy suppliant? What but a godless man,
A cruel son? Yet him,

This matricide, thou hast stolen from us, thou, a god.
Who dares pretend—none—that such deeds are just?

Out, I command you, from these precincts! Hence

With speed! Begone from my prophetic shrine;

Lest smitten by a wingéd glistening snake

Sped from my gold-wrought bow-string, thou in
anguish

Shouldst spit forth foam darkened with human blood.

This is no dwelling fit for your approach.

Go rather where doomed heads are lopped, eyes
gouged,

Throats cut; where by destruction of the seed

THE EUMENIDES

ἀτμῷ κατισχναίνουσα, νηδύος πυρί,
΄ /
ἕπου, μάραινε δευτέροις διώγμασιν.

[Exit the GHOST OF CLYTAEMNESTRA. |

Μ ᾿ς Μ \ \ , ᾽ > N \ /
ἐγειρ᾽, ἔγειρε καὶ σὺ τήνδ᾽, ἐγὼ δὲ σέ.
¢ / / ie
εὕδεις; ἀνίστω, κἀπολακτίσασ᾽ ὕπνον,
ἰδώμεθ᾽ εἴ τι τοῦδε φροιμίου ματᾷ
μ ροιμίου ματᾷ.

ἰοὺ ἰοὺ πόπαξ. ἐπάθομεν, φίλαι;---

a: \ \ fal \ ΄ > ,

ἢ πολλὰ δὴ παθοῦσα καὶ μάτην ἐγώ,---
ἐπάθομεν πάθος δυσαχές, ὦ πόποι,
ἄφερτον κακόν.

> > , / yy / Jays /

ἐξ ἀρκύων πέπτωκεν οἴχεταί θ᾽ ὁ Onp—
ὕπνῳ κρατηθεῖσ᾽ ἄγραν ὠλεσα.

[APOLLO re-appears.]

A / /
tw παῖ Διός, ἐπίκλοπος πέλει;---
/ \ , ’ὔ /
νέος δὲ γραίας δαίμονας καθιππάσω,---
\ e y / v ΕΣ \
Tov ἱκέταν σέβων, ἄθεον ἄνδρα καὶ
r 4
τοκεῦσιν πικρόν,
>] , a /
Tov μητραλοίαν δ᾽ ἐξέκλεψας ὧν θεός.---
“ > -“
τί τῶνδ᾽ ἐρεῖ τις δικαίως ἔχειν;

ἔξω, κελεύω, τῶνδε δωμάτων τάχος

σεν δ᾽ > / n “
χωρεῖτ, ἀπαωαλλάσσεσθε μαντικὼῶν μυχων,

μὴ καὶ λαβοῦσα πτηνὸν ἀργηστὴν ὄφιν,
χρυσηλάτου θώμιγγος ἐξορμώμενον,

> a e > , by Ὶ tee 4 >’ /
ἀνῇς ὑπ᾽ ἄλγους μέλαν᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἀνθρώπων ἀφρόν.
οὔτοι δόμοισι τοῖσδε χρίμπτεσθαι πρέπει:

ἀλλ᾽ οὗ καρανιστῆρες ὀφθαλμωρύχοι
δίκαι σφαγαί τε σπέρματός T ἀποφθορᾷ

129

II5

I20

125

130

135

Ch.

Ab.
Ch.

Ap.

Ch.

Ap.
Ch.

Ap.

Ch.

Ap.

Or.

130 THE EUMENIDES

The virile strength of boys is maimed, where men
Are sliced or stoned, or wail in long-drawn moans
Impaled beneath the spine. Do you hear me? Go,
Vile flock without a shepherd; get you hence!

For such a herd no god has love to give.

Sovereign Apollo, hear now our reply.

Thou thyself art not guilty of this in part:

Thou alone didst all; the whole guilt is thine.
How? Make that clear. I grant thee speech so far.
Thy voice enjoined this man to slay his mother.

I enjoined him to avenge his sire. What then?

We hunt forth mother-slayers from all homes.

How deal you then with wives who slay their lords?
That were no true murder of kindred blood.

Then of slight honour and no worth you make

The troth-plight between Zeus and crowning Hera.
The fate-sealed marriage bed of man and wife, ;
Fenced with its rights, is mightier than all oaths.
Then without justice you pursue Orestes.

But Pallas at this trial shall arbitrate.

And I, drawn by a mother’s blood, pursue

This man with vengeance, till I hunt him down.
And I will aid my suppliant and protect him.

For dreaded among men and gods alike

Is the appealer’s wrath, should I forsake him.

[Exeunt omnes. The scene changes to ATHENS. Enter
ORESTES, who takes sanctuary at a shrine of
ATHENA. | a

Goddess Athena, by command of Loxias
I come. Receive this outcast graciously,
No suppliant unabsolved with hand unpurged ;

Xo.

THE EUMENIDES

δ rn a x» ») /

παίδων κακοῦται χλοῦνις, ἠδ᾽ ἀκρωνία,
/ /

λευσμός τε, Kal μύζουσιν οἰκτισμὸν πολὺν

\ , / Φ
ὑπὸ ῥάχιν παγέντες. ἄρ᾽ ἀκούετε;

eyes) 8Κ a /

χωρεῖτ᾽ ἄνευ βοτῆρος αἰπολούμεναι"

,ὔ , ’ ” » \ La]
ποίμνης τοιαύτης δ᾽ οὔτις εὐφιλὴς θεῶν.
yr
ἄναξ "Απολλον, ἀντάκουσον ἐν μέρει.

\ \ ΄

αὐτὸς σὺ τούτων οὐ μεταίτιος πέλει,
> > - Ν lal ΓΜ x /
ἀλλ᾽ εἷς TO πᾶν ἔπραξας ὧν παναίτιος.

tal a fol li /
πῶς δή; τοσοῦτο μῆκος ἔκτεινον λόγου.

/ \ na

ἔχρησας ὥστε Tov ξένον μητροκτονεῖν.

. ἔχρησα ποινὰς τοῦ πατρὸς πρᾶξαι. τί μήν;

\ “ > ΄ > /
TOUS μητραλοίας EK δόμων ἐλαύνομεν.

/ \ \ “ ” /
. τί yap γυναικὸς ἥτις ἄνδρα νοσφίσῃ;

> x / > ὦ > / /
οὐκ ἂν γένοιθ᾽ ὅμαιμος αὐθέντης φόνος.
bs / ᾽ ΝΜ \ > > \ ’ ,
ἢ κάρτ᾽ ἄτιμα καὶ Tap οὐδὲν ἠρκέσω
Ἥρας τελείας καὶ Διὸς πιστώματα.
εὐνὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὶ καὶ γυναικὶ μόρσιμος
ὅρκου ᾽στὶ μείζων τῇ δίκῃ φρουρουμένη.
ov φημ᾽ ᾿Ορέστην σ᾽ ἐνδίκως ἀνδρηλατεῖν.
δίκας δὲ Παλλὰς τῶνδ᾽ ἐποπτεύσει θεά.
5 \ > ” \ e A /
ἐγὼ δ᾽, ἄγει γὰρ αἷμα μητρῷον, δίκας
μέτειμι τόνδε φῶτα κακκυνηγετῶ.

> \ Ὡς , \ (ey fF
. ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἀρήξω Tov ἱκέτην TE ῥύσομαι"

\ ‘ >? lal ’ lal /
δεινὴ yap ἐν βροτοῖσι κἀν θεοῖς πέλει

131

145

150

155

rn A a 2 a . 8: /
TOU προστροπαίου μῆνις, εἰ προδῶ σφ᾽ ἑκών. 160

[Exeunt omnes. The scene changes to ATHENS. Enter
ORESTES, who takes sanctuary at a shrine of

Op.

ATHENA. |

ἄνασσ᾽ ᾿Αθάνα, Λοξίου κελεύσμασιν
ἥκω, δέχου δὲ πρευμενῶς ἀλάστορα,

> / » ΟΣ Ε] ’ /
οὐ προστρόπαιον οὐδ᾽ ἀφοίβαντον χέρα,

9-2ώ

Ch.

Or.

132 THE EUMENIDES

Long since the stain is dimmed and worn away
By sojournings and journeyings among men.
Obedient now to Loxias’ oracles

I approach thy dwelling and thine image, Goddess.
Here clinging, will I wait my trial’s end.

[Enter the FURIES. |

Good! Here is a clear trace of the man.
The smell of human blood smiles sweetly upon me.

Again, search again! Spy into every nook,

For fear the matricide stealthily slip from our wrath.
Yes, there again safe he lurks,

Clinging around the image of the deathless god:
Trial he now would claim for his foul handiwork.
But it may not be: a mother’s blood, once spilt, is
To gather up; hard indeed. [hard
That which on earth is shed vanishes and is gone.
Now thou in turn must yield me from thy living self,
Ruddy and rich from the heart, liquor to lap: and on
I mean to thrive, evil draught though it be. _ [thee
I’ll wither thee alive and drag thee down below,
There to atone, pang for pang, thy mother’s agony.

Schooled by my miseries, I have experience

In purifying rites. Where speech befits

I know, where silence too. But in this case

A wise instructor charges me to speak.

For the blood sleeps and is fading from my hand:
The stain of matricide is washed away.

While yet fresh, at divine Apollo’s hearth

It was expelled by purging blood of swine.

Xo.

THE EUMENIDES

ἀλλ᾽ ἀμβλὺν ἤδη προστετριμμένον TE πρὸς

ΝΜ ΝΜ \ 4 nr
ἄλλοισιν οἴκοις καὶ πορεύμασιν βροτῶν.
"ζ ἐ \ IN Ei /
σῴζων ἐφετμὰς Λοξίου χρηστηρίους,
, -“
πρόσειμι δῶμα καὶ βρέτας τὸ σόν, θεά,
Zz lal / , A / /
αὐτοῦ φυλάσσων ἀμμενῶ τέλος δίκης.
[Enter the FuRIES.]
3 ‘yw 9 \ 3 ἣν b] \ /
εἶεν" TOO ἐστὶ Tavdpos ἐκφανὲς τέκμαρ.
5 / a
ὀσμὴ βροτείων αἱμάτων με προσγελᾷ.
“ [τς ῳ 5 i
opa opa war av
λεῦσσέ TE πάντα, μὴ
λάθῃ φύγδα βὰς
ματροφόνος atitas.—
. > io / ΕΣ > x Μ
ὁ δ᾽ αὖτέ γ᾽ ἀαλκὰν ἔχων
περὶ βρέτει πλεχθεὶς θεᾶς ἀμβρότου
ς / / , A
ὑπόδικος θέλει γενέσθαι χερῶν.---
τὸ δ᾽ οὐ πάρεστιν" αἷμα μητρῷον χαμαὶ
δυσαγκόμιστον, παπαῖ,
\ \ / / Μ
τὸ διερὸν πέδοι χύμενον οἴχεται.---
ἀλλ᾽ ἀντιδοῦναι δεῖ σ᾽ ἀπὸ ζῶντος ῥοφεῖν
5 \ > Lal , ’ \ * ral
ἐρυθρὸν ἐκ μελῶν πέλανον" ἀπὸ δὲ σοῦ
φεροίμαν βοσκὰν πώματος δυσπότου"---
καὶ ζῶντά σ᾽ ἰσχνάνασ᾽ ἀπάξομαι κάτω,
ἀντίποιν᾽ ὡς τίνης ματροφόνου δύας.

Ορ. ἐγὼ διδαχθεὶς ἐν κακοῖς ἐπίσταμαι

πολλοὺς καθαρμούς, καὶ λέγειν ὅπου δίκη
σιγᾶν θ᾽ ὁμοίως" ἐν δὲ τῷδε πράγματι

ἴω > / Ν “ /
φωνεῖν ἐτάχθην πρὸς σοφοῦ διδασκάλου"
βρίζει γὰρ αἷμα καὶ μαραίνεται χερός,
μητροκτόνον μίασμα δ᾽ ἔκπλυτον πέλει.
ποταίνιον γὰρ ὃν πρὸς ἑστίᾳ θεοῦ
Φοίβου καθαρμοῖς ἠλάθη χοιροκτόνοις.

133

165

179

175

180

185

190

Ch.

134 THE EUMENIDES

Now with pure lips, religiously, I call

On this land’s Queen, Athena, that she come
Hither to aid me.

Oh haste—a god hears even from afar—

And bring with thee deliverance from these woes.

Ne’er shall Apollo nor Athena’s might

Protect thee; but abandoned shalt thou perish,
Finding no place for gladness in thy soul.

Wilt thou not answer, wilt thou scorn my words,
Though for me thou art bred and consecrated?
Alive, slain at no altar, shalt thou feed me.

Now shalt thou hear a hymn to bind thee fast.

Let us now! with solemn step move in accord,
And show in accord

The enthralling might of our music.

Come now let us preach to the sons of men:
Yea let us tell them of our vengeance:

Yea let us all make mention of justice.

Whoso showeth hands that are undefiled,

Lo he shall suffer nought of us ever,

But shall go unharmed to his ending.

But, if he hath sinned, like unto this man,
And covereth hands that are blood-stained,
Then is our witness true to the slain man;
And we sue for the blood, sue and pursue for it,
So that at the last there is payment.

Mother mine who bare me,
Oh Mother Night,
To be feared of them who see and see not—hear!

1 This Ode (lines 206-240) was translated by the late Dr A. W.
Verrall.

Xo.

THE EUMENIDES

\ lal > 3 «ς fal / > / “Ὁ
καὶ νῦν ah ἁγνοῦ στόματος εὐφήμως καλῶ

’ ΝΜ lol rs / > \
χώρας ἄνασσαν τῆσδ᾽ ᾿Αθηναίαν ἐμοὶ

μολεῖν ἀρωγόν.

ἔλθοι,---κλύει δὲ καὶ πρόσωθεν ὧν θεός, ---

[ / a peas | \ /
ὅπως γένοιτο τῶνδ᾽ ἐμοὶ λυτήριος.

οὔτοι σ᾽ ᾿Απόλλων οὐδ᾽ ᾿Αθηναίας σθένος
ῥύσαιτ᾽ ἂν ὥστε μὴ οὐ παρημελημένον

ΝΜ ‘ / \ / τ. lal
ἔρρειν, τὸ χαίρειν μὴ μαθόνθ᾽ ὅπου φρενῶν"
οὐδ᾽ ἀντιφωνεῖς, ἀλλ᾽ ἀποπτύεις λόγους

> \ / \ /
ἐμοὶ τραφείς τε Kal καθιερωμένος ;

135

195

200

καὶ ζῶν pe δαίσεις οὐδὲ πρὸς βωμῷ chayeis:

ὕμνον δ᾽ ἀκούσει τόνδε δέσμιον σέθεν.

» \ \ \ vA > \
aye δὴ Kal χορὸν ἅψωμεν, ἐπεὶ
μοῦσαν στυγερὰν
ἀποφαίνεσθαι δεδόκηκεν,
/ \ 7
λέξαι Te λάχη, TA KAT ἀνθρώπους
ὡς ἐπινωμᾷ στάσις Apa.
/ >
εὐθυδίκαιοι δ᾽ οἰόμεθ᾽ εἶναι"
Ν lal ,
Tov μὲν καθαρὰς χεῖρας προνέμοντ᾽
» > / an > ae an
οὔτις ἐφέρπει μῆνις ἀφ ἡμῶν,
ἀσινὴς δ᾽ αἰῶνα διοιχνεῖ"
Ὁ“ , > \ “ “0 e \
ὅστις δ᾽ ἀλιτὼν ὥσπερ ὅδ᾽ ἁνὴρ
fal /
χεῖρας phovias ἐπικρύπτει,
μάρτυρες ὀρθαὶ τοῖσι θανοῦσιν
/ 7 “
παραγιγνόμεναι πράκτορες αἵματος
> lel / > /
αὐτῷ τελέως ἐφάνημεν.

“ "ἢ 5 7 3 na
μᾶτερ & μ᾽ ἔτικτες, ὦ μᾶτερ

Νύξ, ἀλαοῖσι καὶ δεδορκόσιν ποινάν,

215

220

136 THE EUMENIDES

The young god Apollo, he jests at our justice,
Covers yon cowering culprit, albeit a mother’s blood
hath marked him mine.

Sing then the spell, Sisters of Hell;

Chant him the charm, mighty to harm,

Binding the blood, madding the mood;

Such the music that we make:

Quail, ye sons of men, and quake;

Bow the heart, and bend, and break.

Even so ’tis written
(Oh sentence sure!)
Upon all that wild in wickedness dip hand
In the blood of their birth, in the fount of their
flowing: ;
So shall he pine until the grave receive him—to find
no grace even in the grave.
Sing then the spell, Sisters of Hell;
Chant him the charm, mighty to harm,
Binding the blood, madding the mood;
Such the music that we make:
Quail, ye sons of men, and quake;
Bow the heart, and bend, and break.
ATHENA
I heard a suppliant cry from far away
Beside Scamander’s stream.
Thence came I speeding with unwearied foot,
To the wingless rustling of my bellying aegis.
Beholding these strange visitants in my land,
The sight dismays me not, though it astounds.
Who are you? I would question all alike,
Both him who sits a suppliant at my image,
And you, so unlike aught begotten of seed.

THE EUMENIDES 137

“ ς an
κλῦθ᾽. ὁ Λατοῦς yap ivis μ᾽ ἄτιμον τίθησι
/ ᾽ /
τόνδ᾽ ἀφαιρούμενος
lal » f
TTOKA, ματρῷον ἅγνισμα κύριον φόνου.

5» \ \ a /

ἐπὶ δὲ TO τεθυμένῳ 225
/ / /

τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,

[4 2 » /

ὕμνος ἐξ ᾿ρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρμικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς.

τοῦτο γὰρ λάχος διανταία 230
Μοῖρ᾽ ἐπέκλωσεν ἐμπέδως ἔχειν, θνατῶν

τοῖσιν αὐτουργίαι ξυμπέσωσιν μάταιοι,

τοῖς ὁμαρτεῖν, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν

γᾶν ὑπέλθῃ: θανὼν δ᾽ οὐκ ἄγαν ἐλεύθερος.

> \ \ lal /

ἐπὶ δὲ TO τεθυμένῳ 235
τόδε μέλος, παρακοπά,

παραφορὰ φρενοδαλής,

“ 2 1D /

ὕμνος ἐξ ᾿ρινύων,

δέσμιος φρενῶν, ἀφόρμικτος, αὐονὰ βροτοῖς. 240

ΑΘΗΝΑ
πρόσωθεν ἐξήκουσα κληδόνος βοὴν
ἀπὸ Σκαμάνδρου"
ἔνθεν διώκουσ᾽ ἦλθον ἄτρυτον πόδα,
a 7 ε a U “ἘΠ
πτερῶν ἄτερ ῥοιβδοῦσα κόλπον αἰγίδος.
\ ἜΡΟΝ κα PG , \
καινὴν δ᾽ ὁρῶσα τήνδ᾽ ὁμιλίαν χθονὸς 245
La) \ > / lal cy RY ΄
ταρβῶ μὲν οὐδέν, θαῦμα δ᾽ ὄμμασιν πάρα.
, va) ΄
τίνες TOT ἐστέ; πᾶσι δ᾽ ἐς κοινὸν λέγω"
/ > \ ao Σ / /
βρέτας τε τοὐμὸν τῷδ᾽ ἐφημένῳ ξένῳ,
nr ς \ ἴω
ὑμᾶς θ᾽ ὁμοίας οὐδενὶ σπαρτῶν γένει.

Ch.

Ath.

Ch.

Ath.

Ch.

Ath.

Ch.

Ath.

Ch.

Ath.

Or.

138 THE EUMENIDES

Thou shalt hear all in brief, daughter of Zeus.

We are Night’s eternal children. In our homes
Below the earth, the Curses are we called.
Slayers of men we hunt forth from all homes.
And the slayer’s flight—where is the end of it?
Where happiness is no more to be found.

Is the flight such whereon you hound this man?
Yes, for he dared to be his mother’s murderer.
Was there no other power, whose wrath he feared?
What goad so strong as to compel matricide?
There are two parties here, and but one plea.
Well, question him, then judge with equity.
What reply, stranger, wouldst thou make to this?
But tell me first thy country and thy lineage,
And thy misfortunes; then repel this charge.
Sovereign Athena,

I seek no absolution, nor with hand

Polluted to thine image do I cling.

Long since have I been duly purified

Elsewhere, with victim and with lustral stream.
Hear now my race. In Argos was I born.

My sire, to whom thy question fitly leads,

Was Agamemnon, chieftain of warrior seamen,
With whose aid thou didst make the city of Troy
No more a city. He returning home

Died shamefully, by my black-souled mother slain,
Enveloped in a cunning snare, that still
Remained as witness of that murderous bath.

So I slew her who bare me, I deny it not,
Requiting thus my beloved father’s blood.

And herein Loxias shares the guilt with me.

If I did right or no, be thou the judge.

Whate’er my fate, from thee will I accept it.

Xo.

THE EUMENIDES

\ / x
πεύσει τὰ πάντα συντόμως, Διὸς κόρη.
-“ Ν a
ἡμεῖς γάρ ἐσμεν Νυκτὸς αἰανῆ τέκνα.
’ \ ἂν 1S Μ lel Ὁ“ /
Apat δ᾽ ἐν οἴκοις γῆς ὕπαι κεκλήμεθα.
a ,
βροτοκτονοῦντας ἐκ δόμων ἐλαύνομεν.
\ fal / na \ / a a
Kal τῷ KTAVOVTL ποῦ TO τέρμα τῆς φυγῆς;
, lal ,
ὅπου τὸ χαίρειν μηδαμοῦ νομίζεται.
ἢ καὶ τοιαύτας τῷδ᾽ ἐπιρροιζεῖς φυγάς;
\ \ \ /
φονεὺς yap εἶναι μητρὸς ἠξιώσατο.
/ /
ἄλλαις ἀνάγκαις, ἤ τινος τρέων κότον;
fal nr / fal
ποῦ γὰρ τοσοῦτο κέντρον WS μητροκτονεῖν;
- [7 , ,
δυοῖν παρόντοιν ἥμισυς λόγος πάρα.
a - /
arn’ ἐξέλεγχε, κρῖνε δ᾽ εὐθεῖαν δίκην.
/ \ ANS) > rc 5 49 > f /
τί πρὸς τάδ᾽ εἰπεῖν, ὦ ξέν᾽, ἐν μέρει θέλεις ;
/
λέξας δὲ χώραν Kai γένος Kai ξυμφορὰς
N / Ψ, be we ob a U
τὰς σάς, ἔπειτα τόνδ᾽ ἀμυναθοῦ ψόγον.
” 99 /
ἄνασσ᾽ ᾿Αθάνα,
> TN / 2~ + ,
οὐκ εἰμὶ προστρόπαιος, οὐδ᾽ ἔχων μύσος
\ \ 5 a \ \ > / ΄
πρὸς χειρὶ THUH τὸ σὸν ἐφεζόμην βρέτας.
a? /
πάλαι πρὸς ἄλλοις ταῦτ᾽ ἀφιερώμεθα
οἴκοισι, καὶ βοτοῖσι καὶ ῥυτοῖς πόροις.
7 ΄,
γένος δὲ τοὐμὸν ὡς ἔχει πεύσει τάχα.
ΠΝ a > 7 > c a ΧΩ
ργεῖός εἰμι, πατέρα δ᾽ ἱστορεῖς καλῶς,
> “ lal
Ayapéuvor’, ἀνδρῶν ναυβατῶν ἁρμόστορα"
\ , if /
ξὺν & σὺ Τροίαν ἄπολιν ᾿Γλίου πόλιν
/ - A \
ἔθηκας. ἔφθιθ᾽ οὗτος οὐ καλῶς, μολὼν
Ss /
εἰς οἶκον" ἀλλά νιν κελαινόφρων ἐμὴ
΄ /
μήτηρ κατέκτα, ποικίλοις ἀγρεύμασι
δ ? aA fal /
κρύψασ᾽, ἃ λουτρῶν ἐξεμαρτύρει φόνον"
, a
ἔκτεινα τὴν τεκοῦσαν, οὐκ ἀρνήσομαι,
ἀντικτόνοις ποιναῖσι φιλτάτου πατρός.
Ν a an / 7
καὶ τῶνδε κοινῇ Λοξίας μεταίτιος.
\ 2 > / Μ δὴ lal /
σὺ δ᾽ εἰ δικαίως εἴτε μὴ κρῖνον δίκην"
fal > /
πράξας yap ἐν σοὶ πανταχῇ τάδ᾽ αἰνέσω.

139

250

260

205

270

275

280

140 THE EUMENIDES

Ath, The matter is too grave for any mortal
To presume to try it: nor may I myself δ
Lawfully judge a case of passionate murder.
But since this cause has lighted on our city,
I will appoint judges of murder, bound
By oath, to be an ordinance for all time.
When 1 have chosen the best among my citizens,
I will return to sift this matter truly.

Ch. Now shall justice wholly fail?,
Fade and faint, cease to be,
If the slayer’s wrongful plaint,
Here in plea, dare prevail.
Such a deed
Not a sinner but shall find
All too featly to his mind.

Give to fear her proper seat.

Still to watch the wanton thought
Let her sit, as just and meet:

Sigh and tear,

Wisdom must with these be bought.

Praise not thou the slavish lot,

And the lawless, praise it not,

Praise it not.

Blest is the mean; go thou ever between, and God
shall prosper the going.

Wisely sayeth the ancient rede,

“Naughtiness gendereth pride, as the fruit of the

But in the wholesome heart : [seed”’:

Good hopes, good wishes start:

And good rewards the sowing.

1 This Ode (lines 291-341) was translated by thelate Dr A. W.
Verrall.

THE EUMENIDES 141

ΑΘ. τὸ πρᾶγμα μεῖζον, εἴ τις οἴεται τόδε
Ν / >’ \ \ 5 \ /
βροτὸς δικάζειν: οὐδὲ μὴν ἐμοὶ θέμις
φόνου διαιρεῖν ὀξυμηνίτους δίκας"
b] \ \ la) ry) he JF Be / /
ἐπεὶ δὲ πρᾶγμα δεῦρ᾽ ἐπέσκηψεν τόδε,
φόνων δικαστὰς ὁρκίους αἱρουμένη
θεσμὸν τὸν εἰς ἅπαντ᾽ ἐγὼ θήσω χρόνον.
,ὔ eee) lal lal > lal \ ,
κρίνασα δ᾽ ἀστῶν τῶν ἐμῶν τὰ βέλτατα
ἥξω, διαιρεῖν τοῦτο πρᾶγμ᾽ ἐτητύμως. 290

ι᾿
oo
On

Xo. viv καταστροφαὶ νέων
θεσμίων, εἰ κρατή-
σει δίκα τε καὶ βλάβα
τοῦδε ματροκτόνου.
΄ A LAN ed > ΄
πάντας ἤδη τόδ᾽ ἔργον εὐχερεί- 295
/ /
@ συναρμόσει βροτούς.

Μ » ὦ \ \ i
ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου τὸ δεινὸν εὖ,
fal /
καὶ φρενῶν ἐπίσκοπον
δεῖ μένειν καθήμενον"
7
ξυμφέρει 300
a \ /
σωφρονεῖν ὑπὸ στένει.
( ee. > / /
nT ἀνάρχετον βίον
/
μήτε δεσποτούμενον
αἰνέσῃς.
\ / \ /
παντὶ μέσῳ TO κράτος 305
\ ” Μ ?
θεὸς ὦπασεν, ἄλλ
” rf) /
adra δ᾽ ἐφορεύει.

7 a /
ξύμμετρον δ᾽ ἔπος λέγω,
΄, \ [2

δυσσεβίας μὲν ὕβρις
τέκος ὡς ἐτύμως" 310
> > Ὁ »
ἐκ δ᾽ ὑγιεί-
r e
as φρενῶν ὁ πάμφιλος
ff
Kal TOAVEUKTOS ὄλβος.

142 THE EUMENIDES

Then be this thy constant law,

Throned Right to hold in awe,

Hold in awe:

Which if thou spurn for a profit to earn, wait awhile,
then weep thy deception,

When the balance stands redrest.

Honour then father and mother, who looks to be

Give to the stranger too 4 _iiblest:

Within the gates his due:

Let him have large reception.

Who free of will

Doeth right, shall prosper still;

Mercy comes behind him.

Destroyed quite

Sure ye shall not find him.

The bold in sin

By transgression shall not win;

Nor gathered heap

Of guilty spoil shall keep.

Perforce he scatters bulk and bale.
When from the tops the halyard drops,
When sinks the sail,—then mind him!

He prays—he raves—
Wrestles—Ah! the grasping waves
Will not be prevented,

But laugh, Aha!

Ha! for spite contented!

The fool, whose pride

Wind and waters’ worst defied,
With helpless hand

Beating off he beats to land!

THE EUMENIDES

’ \ lal / Ls
ἐς TO πᾶν δέ σοι λέγω,
Ν ” /
βωμὸν αἴδεσαι δίκας"
[4
μηδέ νιν
κέρδος ἰδὼν ἀθέῳ
ποδὶ λὰξ ations:
ποινὰ γὰρ ἐπέσται.
z / I
κύριον μένει τέλος.
\ / ΞΖ
πρὸς τάδε τις τοκέων
, = ,ὕ
σέβας εὖ προτίων
\ /
καὶ Eevoti-
, > \
μους δόμων ἐπιστροφὰς

γὼ ἡ / »”
αἰδόμενός τις ἔστω.

« \ a) ΤῸΝ / ” / ΓΝ
ἑκὼν δ᾽ ἀνάγκας ἄτερ δίκαιος ὧν
οὐκ ἄνολβος ἔσται"

, > ” > ae /
πανώλεθρος δ᾽ οὔποτ᾽ ἂν γένοιτο.

\ / /
Tov ἀντίτολμον δέ φαμι παρβάδαν
\ / ,

ἄγοντα πολλὰ TavTOpupT ἄνευ δίκας

’ \ , /
βιαίως ξὺν χρόνῳ καθήσειν

a /

λαῖφος, ὅταν λάβῃ πόνος

θραυομένας κεραίας.

na Aue) 4 > \ >? /
καλεῖ δ᾽ ἀκούοντας οὐδὲν ἐν μέσᾳ
δυσπαλεῖ τε Siva:
γελᾷ δὲ δαίμων ἐπ᾽ ἀνδρὶ θερμῷ,
\ ΕΣ ϑ > na Ayal) \ > /
TOV οὔποτ᾽ αὐχοῦντ᾽ ἰδὼν ἀμαχάνοις

δύαις λαπαδνὸν οὐδ᾽ ὑπερθέοντ᾽ ἄκραν"

143

315

320

325

939

955

Ath.

Ap.

Ath.

144 THE EUMENIDES

One touch of fate with swift surprise
Wrecks the gay freight; he sinks, he dies,
Lost and of none lamented!

Proclaim now, Herald: bid the folk be still.
And let the Tyrrhene trumpet, with shrill note
Piercing the heavens, filled with breath of man,
Utter its high-pitched message to the throng.
In silence let my ordinance be heard

By this whole city, for all time to come,

And by these, that their suit be rightly judged.
Sovereign Apollo, rule what is thine own.

How in this business, pray, art thou concerned?
I come, first to give witness,—for my house,
My hearth received this man as suppliant,

And it was I who purged him of this murder,—
To plead too for myself; for I was cause

Of his mother’s slaying. Open thou the case

In such form as thy wisdom may think best.
The word is now with you. The case is opened.

. Many we are, but briefly will we speak.

Sentence for sentence do thou make reply.
Say first, art thou thy mother’s murderer?
I slew her. That fact there is no denying.

. Of the three falls already here is one.

But how it was you slew her, you must say.
I will. With a sword I stabbed her in the throat.

. And who suggested, who advised the deed?

. The oracle of this God. He bears me witness.
. Did he, the seer, prompt you to matricide?

. Apollo, be thou witness now: pronounce

Whether it was with justice that I slew her.

ΑΘ.

Α.

THE EUMENIDES

δι’ αἰῶνος δὲ τὸν πρὶν ὄλβον
“ ἈΝ /
ἕρματι προσβαλὼν δίκας

Μ δ Ὁ Φ

ὥλετ ἄκλαυτος, ᾷστος.

“ \ a
κήρυσσε, κῆρυξ, καὶ στρατὸν κατειργαθοῦ,
“ Ψ 98 ὃ / > / AR \

ἥ τ᾽ οὖν διάτορος αἰθέρος Τυρσηνικὴ
/ / / /
σάλπιγξ βροτείου πνεύματος πληρουμένη
/ A
ὑπέρτονον γήρυμα φαινέτω στρατῷ.
συγᾶν ἀρήγει καὶ μαθεῖν θεσμοὺς ἐμοὺς
/ lal \ nr ’
πόλιν τε πᾶσαν ἐς τὸν αἰανῆ χρόνον
\ / >] “ x‘ 3. a /
καὶ τούσδ᾽, ὅπως ἂν εὖ διαγνωσθῇ δίκη---
, » /
ἄναξ "᾿Απολλον, ὧν ἔχεις αὐτὸς κράτει.
τί τοῦδε σοὶ μέτεστι πράγματος λέγε.
καὶ μαρτυρήσων ἦλθον---ἔστι γὰρ νόμῳ
c ͵ [4 > € \ \ , > /
ἱκέτης ὅδ᾽ ἁνὴρ Kal δόμων ἐφέστιος
> Qn / ay nr > > \ SF.
ἐμῶν, φόνου δὲ τοῦδ᾽ ἐγὼ καθάρσιος--
\ / > / > / 3 ὦ
καὶ ξυνδικήσων αὐτός" αἰτίαν δ᾽ ἔχω
“ fal \ a / ’
τῆς τοῦδε μητρὸς TOD φόνου. σὺ δ᾽ εἴσαγε
δ ’ / ie
ὅπως τ᾽ ἐπίστᾳ τήνδε κύρωσον δίκην.
c ~ « » > / \ \ /
ὑμῶν ὁ μῦθος, εἰσάγω δὲ τὴν δίκην.
πολλαὶ μέν ἐσμεν, λέξομεν δὲ συντόμως.
Μ > , ͵ὔ \ » > }é ,
ἔπος δ᾽ ἀμείβου πρὸς ἔπος ἐν μέρει τιθείς.
τὴν μητέρ᾽ εἰπὲ πρῶτον εἰ κατέκτονας.
»Μ 7] > ν΄ ΕΣ /
ἔκτεινα" τούτου δ᾽ οὔτις ἄρνησις πέλει.
ἃ \ ‘Ww « lal a /
ἕν μὲν TOO ἤδη τῶν τριῶν παλαισμάτων.
εἰπεῖν γε μέντοι δεῖ σ᾽ ὅπως κατέκτανες.

. λέγω" ξιφουλκῷ χειρὶ πρὸς δέρην τεμών.

\ ἴω ie / \ / /
πρὸς Tov δ᾽ ἐπείσθης καὶ Tivos βουλεύμασι;
τοῖς τοῦδε θεσφάτοισι" μαρτυρεῖ δέ μοι.
ὁ μάντις ἐξηγεῖτό σοι μητροκτονεῖν;
BA \ / > fal /
ἤδη σὺ μαρτύρησον. ἐξηγοῦ δέ μοι,
"Ἄπολλον, εἴ σφε σὺν δίκῃ κατέκτανον.

145

340

345

3959

355

360

365

Ap.

Ch.

Ap.

Ch.

Ap.

Ch.

Ap.

146 THE EUMENIDES

To you, the high court of Athena, honest

Shall be my words. A prophet may not lie.
Never from mantic throne have I said aught
Save by command of Zeus, the Olympian Father.
So Zeus gave thee this oracle, that bade:

This Orestes to avenge his father’s blood
Regardless of a mother’s claim to awe?

Nay, it was far worse shame that a noble man,
Endowed with god-given royalty, should die,
And that by a woman’s hand.

So a father’s fate, you say, wins more respect
From Zeus, who himself enchained his old sire Cronos.
O loathly, brutish monsters, heaven-abhorred!
Fetters he might undo: there is cure for that;
Yea many the means to loosen what is bound.
But when the dust hath swallowed a man’s blood,
Once dead, there is no raising of him then.

No healing charm hath Zeus my father made

For that: all else now high now low he shifts

And turns about with no least breath of toil.

See what it means, thy plea in his defence.

His mother’s kindred blood he spilt on the earth.
Shall his father’s house in Argos yet be his?
What altar of public worship shall he use?

What brotherhood will admit him to its rites?
This too will I expound; and mark how justly.
The mother of her so-called child is not

Parent, but nurse of the young life sown in her.
The male is parent: she, but a stranger to him,
Keeps safe his growing plant, unless fate blight it.
Of this truth I will show you evidence.

A sire may beget without a mother. Here

At.

Xo.

An.

Xo.

Ant.

THE EUMENIDES

᾿ς a / ᾽
λέξω πρὸς ὑμᾶς τόνδ᾽ ᾿Αθηναίας μέγαν
\ / / x > » re
θεσμὸν δικαίως, μάντις ὧν δ᾽ οὐ ψεύσομαι.
= -

οὐπώποτ᾽ εἶπον μαντικοῖσιν ἐν θρόνοις,

aA \ 5 ͵,

ὃ μὴ κελεύσαι Ζεὺς ᾿Ολυμπίων πατήρ.

/ / /

Ζεύς, ὡς λέγεις σύ, τόνδε χρησμὸν ὦπασε,
/ > / A x \ /
φράζειν ᾿Ορέστῃ τῷδε, τὸν πατρὸς φόνον

fal /
πράξαντα μητρὸς μηδαμοῦ τιμὰς νέμειν ;
οὐ γάρ τι ταὐτὸν ἄνδρα γενναῖον θανεῖν
/
διοσδότοις σκήπτροισι τιμαλφούμενον,
“ \ /
Kal ταῦτα πρὸς γυναικός.
a \ / A n /
πατρὸς προτιμᾷ Ζεὺς μόρον TO σῷ OY"
> \ > 8 / 4 /
αὐτὸς δ᾽ ἔδησε πατέρα πρεσβύτην Kpovov.
ὦ παντομισῆ κνώδαλα, στύγη θεῶν,
/ Ν xX a Μ AQ? wv
πέδαι μὲν ἂν λυθεῖεν, ἔστι τοῦδ᾽ ἄκος,
\ / \ \ /
Kal κάρτα πολλὴ μηχανὴ NUTNPLOS*
> \ 2) \ rie} a) / /
ἀνδρὸς δ᾽ ἐπειδὰν αἷμ᾽ ἀνασπάσῃ κόνις
“ , » ΝΜ 3. 2S ΄
ἅπαξ θανόντος, οὔτις ἔστ᾽ ἀνάστασις.
τούτων ἐπῳδὰς οὐκ ἐποίησεν πατὴρ
4 / \ ae "és 3 ΒΆ x /
οὑμός, TAO ἄλλα πάντ᾽ ἄνω TE καὶ κάτω
/ / > \ » / /
στρέφων τίθησιν οὐδὲν ἀσθμαίνων μένει.

Χο. πῶς γὰρ τὸ φεύγειν τοῦδ᾽ ὑπερδικεῖς ὅρα"

τὸ μητρὸς αἷμ᾽ ὅμαιμον ἐκχέας πέδοι
ΝΜ - > Μ / ’ > / /
ἔπειτ᾽ ἐν "Ἄργει δώματ᾽ οἰκήσει πατρός;
ποίοισι βωμοῖς χρώμενος τοῖς δημίοις ;
ποία δὲ χέρνιψ: φρατέρων προσδέξεται;
\ a / \ 72) ΄ 5 lal , A
Kal τοῦτο λέξω, καὶ wal ws ὀρθῶς ἐρῶ.
οὐκ ἔστι μήτηρ ἡ κεκλημένου τέκνου
τοκεύς, τροφὸς δὲ κύματος νεοσπόρου.

, \ lal / , /
τεκμήριον δὲ τοῦδέ σοι δείξω λόγου"
πατὴρ μὲν ἂν γένοιτ᾽ ἄνευ μητρός: πέλας

10—2

147

979

ῳ
-
On

380

390

400

148 THE EUMENIDES

My witness stands, child of Olympian Zeus,
Who grew not in the darkness of a womb,
Yet plant so fair no goddess could bring forth.
Ath. Has enough now been said; and may I bid
These judges give their true and honest vote?
Ch. For our part, all our shafts have now been shot.
I wait to hear how the issue shall be judged.
Ath. And you? Are you content I order so?
Ap. You have heard what you have heard. Friends, give
your votes;
And let your hearts pay reverence to your oath.
Ath. Hear now my ordinance, people of Athens,
Judges of the first trial for shed blood.
Here for all time to come shall Aegeus’ folk
Meet as a jurors’ council on this rock,
The Hill of Ares. Thereon Reverence,
And Fear, its kinsman, among my citizens .
Shall check wrong-doing night and day alike.
Neither ungoverned nor tyrannical,
Such rule I bid you venerate and maintain.
Nor wholly from the city banish dread;
For what mortal is righteous who fears naught?
Such be your reverence and your righteous awe,
And you shall have, to guard your land and town
A bulwark such as none elsewhere possess,
Not mid the Scythians, nor in Pelops’ isle.
Pure from corruption, reverend, quick to wrath,
Such the tribunal I establish here,
A vigilant guardian of the land’s repose.
To exhort my citizens for times to come,
At such length have I spoken. Now let each rise
And take his ballot, and decide the cause
With reverence for his oath. My words are ended.

᾽

THE EUMENIDES

/ / = eae) , ,
μάρτυς πάρεστι παῖς ᾿Ολυμπίου Διός,
/ A
οὐκ ἐν σκότοισι νηδύος τεθραμμένη,
? > - Μ ” xX / /
αλλ. οἷον Epvos οὔτις ἂν TEKOL θεός.
»“ / ty 233 \ 4, /
ἤδη κελεύω τούσδ᾽ ἀπὸ γνώμης φέρειν

an /
ψῆφον δικαίαν, ὡς ἅλις λελεγμένων ;

ΝΒ lal \ »” nr ’ ,ὔ
ἡμῖν μὲν ἤδη πᾶν τετόξευται βέλος.
μένω δ᾽ ἀκοῦσαι πῶς ἀγὼν κριθήσεται.
/ / \ « a A a> ΓΝ >
τί γάρ; πρὸς ὑμῶν πῶς τιθεῖσ᾽ ἄμομφος w;
» ,ὔ > @ 3 4 ’ 5 \ /
ἠκούσαθ᾽ ὧν ἠκούσατ᾽, ἐν δὲ καρδίᾳ
ψῆφον φέροντες ὅρκον αἰδεῖσθε, ξένοι.
Μ

κλύοιτ᾽ ἂν ἤδη θεσμόν, ᾿Αττικὸς λεώς,

/ fal
πρώτας δίκας κρίνοντες αἵματος χυτοῦ.
» \ \ \ \ > , A
ἔσται δὲ καὶ TO λοιπὸν Αἰγέως στρατῷ

γνΝ A aA 7,
αἰεὶ δικαστῶν τοῦτο βουλευτήριον,

/ / av > \ a /
πέτρα, πάγος T "Αρειος" ἐν δὲ τῷ σέβας
: r / \ Ἁ τ᾿; -“
ἀστῶν φόβος τε ξυγγενὴς τὸ μὴ ᾿δικεῖν

/ > ΄ ς fal
σχήσει TOT ἦμαρ καὶ κατ᾽ εὐφρόνην ομώς.
τὸ μήτ᾽ ἄναρχον μήτε δεσποτούμενον
ἀστοῖς περιστέλλουσι βουλεύω σέβειν,
καὶ μὴ τὸ δεινὸν πᾶν πόλεως ἔξω βαλεῖν.

/ \ \ \ Μ a
τίς yap δεδοικὼς μηδὲν ἔνδικος βροτῶν ;

, lal b] ’ὔ /
τοιόνδε τοι ταρβοῦντες ἐνδίκως σέβας

/
ἔρυμά Te χώρας Kal πόλεως σωτήριον
» ΨΚ @ ” > , »,
ἔχοιτ᾽ ἄν, οἷον οὔτις ἀνθρώπων ἔχει,
οὔτ᾽ ἐν Σκύθαισιν οὔτε ἸΤέλοπος ἐν τόποις.
lol Yj r

κερδῶν ἄθικτον τοῦτο βουλευτήριον,

2 “-“ > / ς / [2

αἰδοῖον, ὀξύθυμον, εὑδόντων ὕπερ

\ / a /
ἐγρηγορὸς φρούρημα γῆς καθίσταμαι.
ταύτην μὲν ἐξέτειν᾽ ἐμοῖς παραίνεσιν
> lal > \ / > rn \ xX
ἀστοῖσιν ἐς TO λοιπόν" ὀρθοῦσθαι δὲ χρὴ
καὶ ψῆφον αἴρειν καὶ διαγνῶναι δίκην
αἰδουμένους τὸν ὅρκον. εἴρηται λόγος.

149

410

415

420

425

430

150 THE EUMENIDES

Ch. Dangerous visitants are we to your land.
Do not affront us then, I counsel you.
Ap. And I say, dread my oracles, wherein
Zeus also speaks his will. Foil not their fruit.
Ch. You talk! But I, if I gain not my cause,
Will soon revisit and chastise this land.
Ap. Among the young gods and the elder too
You are despised. The victory shall be mine.
Ch. Since thy young violence over-rides our age,
I wait to hear the verdict, still in doubt
Whether to wreak my wrath against the town.
Ath. Mine shall this task be, to give judgment last;
And this my vote to Orestes will I reckon.
For of no mother was I born: in all,
Save to be wedded, with whole heart I approve
The male. I am strongly of the father’s side.
Therefore a wife’s fate shall I less esteem,
Who slew her husband, the master of her house.
Orestes wins, even with equal votes.
Forthwith turn out the ballots from the urns,
You judges to whom that function is assigned.
Or. O bright Apollo, how will the judgment go?
Ch. O Night, dark Mother, dost thou behold these things?
Or. For me ’tis now the noose, or life’s light still.
Ch. For us, ruin, or worship without end.
Ap. Number aright the votes cast out, my friends.
As you divide them, reverence honesty.
Ath. This man is acquitted of blood-guiltiness ;
For equal is the number of the lots.
Or. O Pallas! O thou saviour of my house!
Yea, thus to my lost fatherland hast thou
Restored me: and through Hellas men shall say,

ΑΘ.

THE EUMENIDES

\ ἣ, a / Tt / \
καὶ μὴν βαρεῖαν τήνδ᾽ ὁμιλίαν χθονὸς
ξύμβουλός εἰμι μηδαμῶς ἀτιμάσαι.

. κΚἄγωγε χρησμοὺς τοὺς ἐμούς τε καὶ Διὸς

ταρβεῖν κελεύω μηδ᾽ ἀκαρπώτους κτίσαι.
λέγεις " ἐγὼ δὲ μὴ τυχοῦσα τῆς δίκης
βαρεῖα χώρᾳ τῇδ᾽ ὁμιλήσω πάλιν.

>? > ἂν a / \ ,
. ἀλλ ἐν τε τοῖς νέοισι καὶ παλαιτέροις

θεοῖς ἄτιμος εἶ σύ" νικήσω δ᾽ ἐγώ.
) \ / “ /
ἐπεὶ καθιππάζει we πρεσβῦτιν νέος,
/ / fel >
δίκης γενέσθαι τῆσδ᾽ ἐπήκοος μένω,
ὡς ἀμφίβουλος οὖσα θυμοῦσθαι πόλει.
>? \ /Q> / lal /
ἐμὸν τόδ᾽ ἔργον, λοισθίαν κρῖναι δίκην"
ψῆφον δ᾽ ᾿Ορέστῃ τήνδ᾽ ἐγὼ προσθήσομαι.
μήτηρ γὰρ οὔτις ἐστὶν ἥ μ᾽ ἐγείνατο,

\ be A > an ΄ \ / al
τὸ ὃ ἄρσεν ALM πάντα, πλὴν γάμου τυχεῖν,

ἅπαντι θυμῷ, κάρτα δ᾽ εἰμὶ τοῦ πατρός.
οὕτω γυναικὸς οὐ προτιμήσω μόρον
ἄνδρα κτανούσης δωμάτων ἐπίσκοπον.
νικᾷ δ᾽ ᾿Ορέστης, κἂν ἰσόψηφος κριθῆ.
ἐκβάλλεθ᾽ ὡς τάχιστα τευχέων πάλους,
ὅσοις δικαστῶν τοῦτ᾽ ἐπέσταλται τέλος.

. ὦ Φοῖβ᾽ "Απολλον, πῶς ἀγὼν κριθήσεται;

ὦ Νὺξ μέλαινα μῆτερ, ἄρ᾽ ὁρᾷς τάδε;

fa) > / / » a / /
. νῦν ἀγχόνης μοι τέρματ᾽, ἢ φάος βλέπειν.

ἡμῖν γὰρ ἔρρειν, ἢ πρόσω τιμὰς νέμειν.
b] a UL. /
πεμπάζετ᾽ ὀρθῶς ἐκβολὰς ψήφων, ξένοι,
Ν a ? ,
τὸ μὴ ᾿δικεῖν σέβοντες ἐν διαιρέσει.

. ἀνὴρ ὅδ᾽ ἐκπέφευγεν αἵματος δίκην"

” / > > / a“ /
ἴσον γάρ ἐστι τἀρίθμημα τῶν πάλων.
\ \ /
ὦ Παλλάς, ὦ σώσασα τοὺς ἐμοὺς δόμους,
/ E

γαίας πατρῴας ἐστερημένον σύ TOL

Χ / / ιν U ᾽ “-“
κατῴκισάς με" καί τις “Ελλήνων ἐρεῖ,

440

450

455

460

465

Ch.

Ath.

152 THE EUMENIDES

“He is again an Argive, and may dwell

In his sire’s heritage, by help of Pallas,

And Loxias, last of Him who ordaineth all,

The Saviour.’’ Pitying my sire’s fate, he looked
On these, my mother’s advocates, and saved me.
Farewell. May thou and this thy city’s people
Grapple your foes in a resistless grip,

Till safety and victorious arms be yours.

[Exit ORESTES. ]

Oh shame, ye younger deities! The old, holy laws

Ye have ridden down, and stolen from our hands the
prey.

But I, dishonoured, grief-afflicted, heavily wroth,

On this land accurst

Poison, poison, woe for woe, drops of sterile influence

Will I drip down to earth, hot from my heart; and
thence

Birth-killing blight, bud-withering, (Oh revenge!)

Scattering over the ground,

Shall sow the soil with man-destroying blots of

Oh wail! wail!—How act now? [plague.

I am mocked, mocked.—A sore grief

To Athens be my wrongs!

Alas, heavy the wrongs

We bear, Maids of Night,

Mourning our loss of honour.

I pray you, do not grieve thus bitterly.

You are not vanquished; but in equal votes

The cause ends, fairly, not to your dishonour.
Then be not passionate; hurl no wrathful threats
Against this land, nor cause sterility

ΑΘ.

THE EUMENIDES

«Ἀργεῖος ἁνὴρ αὖθις ἔν Te χρήμασιν
οἰκεῖ πατρῴοις, Ταλλάδος καὶ Λοξίου
ἕκατι, καὶ τοῦ πάντα κραίνοντος τρίτου
σωτῆρος, ὃς πατρῷον αἰδεσθεὶς μόρον

Η \ / / « a
om ler με, μητρος τάσδε συνδίκους ορων.

\ lal \ \ \ lal Δ
και χαιρε, και OU Kab πολισσοῦχος λεώς"

4 ’ A “Ὁ ’ / 4
πάλαισμ᾽ ἄφυκτον τοῖς ἐναντίοις ἔχοις,
/
σωτήριόν τε Kal δορὸς νικηφόρον.

[Exit ORESTES. ]

Eee \ / \ /
ἰὼ θεοὶ νεώτεροι, παλαιοὺς νόμους

,ὔ > a t/. /
καθιππάσασθε κἀκ χερῶν εἵχεσθέ μου.
> \ ᾿ A Φ / /
ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἄτιμος a τάλαινα BapvKoTos
> Ὁ“ A lal
ἐν γᾷ τᾷδε, φεῦ,
3\ IX > fol
ἰὸν ἰὸν ἀντιπενθῆ
μεθεῖσα καρδίας, σταλαγμὸν χθονὶ
” - \ fal
ἄφορον᾽ ἐκ δὲ τοῦ
λειχὴν ἄφυλλος, ἄτεκνος,
ἰὼ δίκα, πέδον ἐπισύμενος
βροτοφθόρους κηλῖδας ἐν χώρᾳ βαλεῖ.
στενάζω; τί ῥέξω;
γελῶμαι" δύσοιστα

͵ Μ

πολίταις ἔπαθον"
ἰὼ μεγάλα τοι κόραι δυστυχεῖς
Νυκτὸς ἀτιμοπενθεῖς.

ἐμοὶ πίθεσθε μὴ βαρυστόνως φέρειν.
οὐ γὰρ νενίκησθ᾽, arr ἰσόψηφος δίκη
ἐξῆλθ᾽ ἀληθῶς, οὐκ ἀτιμίᾳ σέθεν"
ὑμεῖς δὲ μὴ θυμοῦσθε μηδὲ τῇδε γῇ
βαρὺν κότον σκήψητε, μηδ᾽ ἀκαρπίαν

ito ἘΞ -

153

470

490

Ch.

Ath.

Ch.

Ath.

154 THE EUMENIDES

By shedding venomous drops of magic dew.
For here I promise you most faithfully

A cavern for your shrine in sacred ground,
Where on bright altars you shall sit enthroned,
Adored and worshipped by my citizens.

Oh wail! wail!—How act now?

I am mocked, mocked.—A sore grief
To Athens be my wrongs!

Alas, heavy the wrongs

We bear, Maids of Night,

Mourning our loss of honour.

Ye are not dishonoured: then restrain your wrath.
Being gods, plague not with spells a land of mortals.
I put my trust in Zeus: what need to say it?

Alone of gods I know the keys that open

The chamber where the thunder is sealed up.

But of that there is no need. Be counselled by me:
Sow not the earth with fruit of a wild tongue.

Calm the black billowing wave’s fierce violence:
Become the revered partner of my home.

We to endure such a shame!

We the primaevally wise! thus domiciled, thus
Dishonouring, shameful thought ! [housed !
I breathe forth passionate rage, uttermost wrath.
Oh! Oh! Shame! Foul!

What is this agony—this that assails my breast?
Hear my fury, O Mother (tricks,
Night: for the gods have robbed me by vile crafty
Stolen my ancient honours, brought low my pride.

I will indulge thy moods, for thou art elder.
But if you pass to a land of other folk,

THE EUMENIDES 155

, > > lal / /
τεύξητ᾽, ἀφεῖσαι δαιμόνων σταλάγματα.
\ a
ἐγὼ yap ὑμῖν πανδίκως ὑπίσχομαι 495
[ὦ \ an > / \
ἕδρας Te καὶ κευθμῶνας ἐνδίκου χθονὸς
λυπαροθρόνοισιν ἡμένας ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάραις
“ 8 δἰ (ἢ a a ,
ἕξειν ὑπ᾽ ἀστῶν τῶνδε τιμαλφουμένας.
Χο. στενάζω; τί ῥέξω;
γελῶμαι: δύσοιστα 500
/ »
πολίταις ἔπαθον"
\ a
ἰὼ μεγάλα τοι κόραι δυστυχεῖς
Νυκτὸς ἀτιμοπενθεῖς.
ΑΘ > »” SS, δ᾽ e 00 ”
. οὐκ ἔστ᾽ ἄτιμοι, μηδ᾽ ὑπερθύμως ἄγαν
\ a / ΄ , 5
θεαὶ βροτῶν κτίσητε δύσκηλον χθόνα. 505
> \ / r, / \ la “ /
κἀγὼ πέποιθα Znvi, καὶ τί δεῖ λέγειν ;
a 5 / n
Kal κλῇδας οἶδα δώματος μόνη θεῶν,
/
ἐν ᾧ κεραυνός ἐστιν ἐσφραγισμένος"
» rn lal x
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτοῦ det: σὺ δ᾽ εὐπιθὴς ἐμοὶ
, ’ » /
γλώσσης ματαίας μὴ ᾿κβάλῃς ἔπη χθονί, 510
καρπὸν φέροντα πάντα μὴ πράσσειν καλῶς.
/ al \ ,
κοίμα κελαινοῦ κύματος πικρὸν μένος
ὡς σεμνότιμος καὶ ξυνοικήτωρ ἐμοί.
Χο. ἐμὲ παθεῖν τάδε, φεῦ,
tA a ᾽ a
ἐμὲ παλαιόφρονα κατά TE γᾶς οἰκεῖν, 515
fal 7 A
φεῦ, ἀτίετον μύσος.
πνέω τοι μένος ἅπαντά τε κότον.
οἰοῖ Oa, φεῦ.
/ δι 6 rd , ᾽ 4 /
τίς μ᾽ ὑποδύεται, Tis ὀδύνα πλευράς ;
θυμὸν ἄιε, μᾶτερ 520
/
Νύξ' ἀπὸ γάρ pe τι-
μᾶν δαναιᾶν θεῶν
δυσπάλαμοι παρ᾽ οὐδὲν ἦραν δόλοι.
> \ ' , I \ 3
ΑΘ. ὀργὰς ξυνοίσω σοι" γεραιτέρα yap εἶ.
ὑμεῖς δ᾽ ἐς ἀλλόφυλον ἐλθοῦσαι χθόνα 525

Ch.

Ath.

Ch.
Ath.
Ch.
Ath.
Cr:
Ath.
Ch.
Ath.
Ch.

156 THE EUMENIDES

You will regret our Athens, I forewarn you.

For to her citizens time’s stream shall flow

With larger honour; whilst thou, honourably
Enshrined by Erechtheus’ temple, shalt receive
From adoring troops of men and women, more
Than thou couldst hope in the wide world beside.

We to endure such a shame!
We the primaevally wise! thus domiciled, thus
Dishonouring, shameful thought! [housed !

I will not weary of speaking thee fair words.

No, if divine Persuasion, the soothing charm
And magic of my tongue, be sacred to thee,
Then here abide: but if thou wouldst not stay,
Thou canst not justly afflict this city’s folk

With wrath or hate, or do them any hurt.

For thou mayst claim thy portion in her soil
Rightfully, with all honourable worship.

Athena, what is this home thou offerest me?

One from all sorrow free. Accept it now.

Say I accept: what privilege shall be mine?

That without thee no household shall have increase.
Canst thou endow me with such power as that?
Aye, we will bless thy votaries with good fortune.
And wilt thou give me warrant for all time?

No need to promise what I would not do.

I feel thy soothing charm: my wrath abates.

We accept.

Here with Pallas let us dwell.

Scorn we not her citadel

By almighty Zeus and Ares cherished
As the fortress of the gods,

ΑΘ.

THE EUMENIDES 157

na a a 3: / / /

γῆς τῆσδ᾽ ἐρασθήσεσθε" προυννέπω τάδε.
/
οὑπιρρέων γὰρ τιμιώτερος χρόνος
ἔσται πολίταις τοῖσδε. καὶ σὺ τιμίαν
iv4 ΝΜ \ / > ,
ἕδραν ἔχουσα πρὸς δόμοις ᾿Βρεχθέως
nr /

τεύξει Tap ἀνδρῶν Kal γυναικείων στόλων, 530
“ 5. 88 A > NA / a
ὅσων Tap ἄλλων οὔποτ᾽ ἂν σχέθοις βροτῶν.

ἐμὲ παθεῖν τάδε, φεῦ,
fal > a
ἐμὲ παλαιόφρονα κατά TE γᾶς οἰκεῖν,

fa) / Vs
φεῦ, ἀτίετον μύσος.

» a / / > /
οὔτοι καμοῦμαί σοι λέγουσα τἀγαθά. 535
ἀλλ᾽ εἰ μὲν ἁγνόν ἐστί σοι ἸΠ]ειθοῦς σέβας,

, > “ “ \ /

γλώσσης ἐμῆς μείλιγμα καὶ θελκτήριον,

\ ᾿] 3 / ” > \ x t /
σὺ δ᾽ οὖν μένοις ἄν" εἰ δὲ μὴ θέλεις μένειν,

” x , “ΟΣ 3 / /
ov τἂν δικαίως THO ἐπιρρέποις πόλει

fol / > XA / ϑι \ / fal
μῆνίν Tw ἢ κότον TW ἢ βλάβην στρατῷ. 540
ἔξεστι γάρ σοι τῆσδε γαμόρῳ χθονὸς
εἶναι δικαίως ἐς τὸ πᾶν τιμωμένη.
BA ~ Oe} / 7 \ »Μ vA
ἄνασσ᾽ Adava, τίνα με φὴς ἔχειν ἕδραν ;

/ > / ? > ΤΑ / \ f
. πάσης ἀπήμον᾽ οἰζύος: δέχου δὲ σύ.

\ \ , / / \ /
καὶ δὴ δέδεγμαι: τίς δέ μοι τιμὴ μένει; 545
c / 2 3 > - A /
ὡς μή τιν᾽ οἶκον εὐθενεῖν ἄνευ σέθεν.
\ a 4 /
σὺ τοῦτο πράξεις, ὥστε με σθένειν τόσον;
a \ EB \ ? 6 ΄
τῷ γὰρ σέβοντι συμφορὰς ὀρθώσομεν.

Χο. καί μοι πρόπαντος ἐγγύην θήσει χρόνου;

ΑΘ.
Χο.

” / \ / “Ὁ \ a
ἔξεστι yap μοι μὴ λέγειν ἃ μὴ τελῶ. 550
θέλξειν μ᾽ ἔοικας καὶ μεθίσταμαι κότου.

δέξομαι Παλλάδος ξυνοικίαν,
οὐδ᾽ ἀτιμάσω πόλιν,
\ \ \ e \ »
τὰν καὶ Ζεὺς ὁ παγκρατὴς ᾿Αρης τε
φρούριον θεῶν νέμει, 555

158 THE EUMENIDES

Crown of Hellas, guarding

The altars of her deities.

Evil breath

Never blow to hurt her trees:

Such to Athens be my grace.

Never trespass hither scorching wind

_ To nip the budding eyes of plants.

Ath.

May no blast of sterile

Blighting plague assail her fields.

And with double births let Pan

At the appointed season bless

The mothers of the thriving flock; and may rich
Teem with abundant offspring, [Earth
Gifts to thank the bounteous gods.

Hear with what wise speech into the pathway

Of blessing they enter.

Stern and terrible though they appear, yet

Great gain shall they bring you, people of Athens.
If you repay them for kindness with kindness
And reverent worship, this shall your fame be,

To guide both your land

And city in the straight path of justice.

Joy to you, joy in the wealth that is each man’s
Joy be to this city’s folk! [portion !
Lovers are you, and beloved,

Of the Virgin throned by Zeus.

Timely wisdom now is yours,

Sheltered under Pallas’ wings,

Sacred in the Father’s eyes.

Joy to you also! But before you I go;
For now will I show you your cavern shrines

ΑΘ.

Χο.

ΑΘ.

THE EUMENIDES

ῥυσίβωμον ‘EdXa-
νων ἄγαλμα δαιμόνων.

δενδροπήμων δὲ μὴ πνέοι βχλάβα,
τὰν ἐμὰν χάριν λέγω"

φλογμός T ὀμματοστερὴς φυτῶν, τὸ
μὴ περᾶν ὅρον τόπων,

μηδ᾽ ἄκαρπος αἰα-

νὴς ἐφερπέτω νόσος,

μῆλά T εὐθενοῦντα Mav

ξὺν διπλοῖσιν ἐμβρύοις

τρέφοι χρόνῳ τεταγμένῳ" γόνος δὲ yas
πλουτόχθων ἑρμαίαν

δαιμόνων δόσιν τίοι.

3 lal , > lel
apa φρονοῦσαι γλώσσης ἀγαθῆς
ὁδὸν εὑρίσκουσ᾽;
» lal lal lal ,
ἐκ τῶν φοβερῶν τῶνδε προσώπων
/ “- a
μέγα κέρδος ὁρῶ τοῖσδε πολίταις"
4 \ ” LA ΞῪΝ
τάσδε γὰρ εὔφρονας εὔφρονες ἀεὶ
/ lal an \
μέγα τιμῶντες καὶ γῆν καὶ πόλιν
ὀρθοδίκαιον
/ / /
πρέψετε πάντως διάγοντες.

χαίρετε χαίρετ᾽ ἐν αἰσιμίαισι πλούτου.
χαίρετ᾽ ἀστικὸς λεώς,

yy e be f

ἴκταρ nuevas Διός

παρθένου φίλας φίλοι

σωφρονοῦντες ἐν χρόνῳ.

Παλλάδος δ᾽ ὑπὸ πτεροῖς

ὄντας ἅζεται πατήρ.

χαίρετε χὐμεῖς" προτέραν δ᾽ ἐμὲ χρὴ
στείχειν θαλάμους ἀποδείξουσαν

159

560

573

580

585

Ch.

Ath.

160 THE EUMENIDES

By the sacred light of these your conductors.

With solemn sacrifice now let us speed you

To your homes in the earth. What will hurt this city,
Emprison it there; but whate’er bringeth gain,
Send forth to increase her with glory.

Lead now these newcomers on their way,

You my citizens, children of Kranaos:

And still in your hearts

For a kind deed let there be kind thoughts.

Joy to you, joy yet again with a double blessing,
All ye dwellers in this land

Deities and mortal men!

While in Pallas’ town ye dwell,

And our rights as denizens

Reverence still, you shall not find

In your life’s lot aught unkind.

Your prayers of benediction I commend,

And by bright-gleaming torch-light will conduct you
Unto your nether subterraneous homes,

Escorted by these ministrants, who guard

My image, (and with right; for ’tis the eye

Of Theseus’ land), a fair-famed company

Of maidens and of wives and aged dames.

Drape now our guests in honourable robes

Of crimson. Let the lights move on before.
Erelong shall these new residents show their love
By prospering the manhood of our land.

CHORUS OF THE ESCORT

Pass on your way in the pride of your worship,
Night’s dread Children, with glad-hearted escort.
(Silence now for our sacred song!)

ΑΘ.

THE EUMENIDES

\ nr an “-
πρὸς φῶς ἱερὸν τῶνδε προπομπῶν.
ye an lal
ite καὶ σφαγίων τῶνδ᾽ ὑπὸ σεμνῶν
Ν rn
κατὰ γῆς σύμεναι TO μὲν ATNPOV
,ὔ / ἧς \ /
χώρᾳ κατέχειν, TO δὲ κερδαλέον
/
πέμπειν πόλεως ἐπὶ νίκη.
e “ x Ὁ lal fal
ὑμεῖς δ᾽ ἡγεῖσθε, πολισσοῦχοι

lal fa) “- ’,

παῖδες Kpavaod, ταῖσδε μετοίκοις.
Μ ᾽ > cal
εἴη δ᾽ ἀγαθῶν

> \

ἀγαθὴ διάνοια πολίταις.

, / > ic Μ
χαίρετε, χαίρετε δ᾽ αὖθις, ἔπη διπλάζω,
πάντες οἱ κατὰ πτόλιν,

rs / \ /
δαίμονές Te καὶ βροτοί,

Παλλάδος πόλιν νέμον-

τες" μετοικίαν δ᾽ ἐμὴν
τ / » /

εὖ σέβοντες οὔτι μέμ-

ψεσθε συμφορὰς βίου.

> Leta} / lal lal
αἰνῷ τε μύθους τῶνδε τῶν κατευγμάτων

I6I

590

595

600

πέμψω Te φέγγει λαμπάδων σελασφόρων

> \ ΝΜ, \ ἊΣ \ /
ες TOUS ἔνερθε καὶ KATW χθονὸς TOTTOUS

\ / “ a /
ξὺν προσπόλοισιν, aite φρουροῦσιν βρέτας 605

SEN 8 ΄, ” \ ΄ \
τουμον OLKALWS. OMA Yap TAaGNS χθονὸς

Θησῇδος. ἐξίκοιτ᾽ ἂν εὐκλεὴς λόχος

ys nr \ , ΄
παίδων, γυναικῶν, καὶ στόλος πρεσβυτίδων.

φοινικοβάπτοις ἐνδυτοῖς ἐσθήμασι

τιμᾶτε, καὶ τὸ φέγγος ὁρμάσθω πάρος,

ὅπως ἂν εὔφρων ἥδ᾽ ὁμιλία χθονὸς

τὸ λοιπὸν εὐάνδροισι συμφοραῖς πρέπη.

ΠΡΟΠΟΜΠΟΙῚ

Ba ὁδόν, ὦ μεγάλαι φιλότιμοι

Νυκτὸς παῖδες, ὑπ᾽ εὔφρονι πομπᾷ,
εὐφαμεῖτε δέ, χωρῖται,

610

[oTp. a.

615

162 THE EUMENIDES

There within Earth’s immemorial caverns
Ritual worship and offerings await you.
(Silence all as we wend along!)

Kind and loyal of heart to our land,

Come, ye revered ones, pleased with the festive
Flame-devoured torch, as you pass to your home.
(Cry aloud a refrain to our chorus!)

Let Peace follow with flaring of torches.
Burghers of Pallas, unto this ending

Zeus the all-seeing and Fate have conspired.
(Cry aloud a refrain to our chorus!)

THE EUMENIDES 163

a ¢ \ te 2 / 9
yas ὑπὸ κεύθεσιν ὠγυγίοισιν, [ἀντ. α.
τιμαῖς καὶ θυσίαις περίσεπται,
> a \ ΄
εὐφαμεῖτε δὲ πανδαμεί,

ἵλαοι δὲ καὶ εὐθύφρονες γᾷ [στρ. β.
δεῦρ᾽ ἴτε, σεμναί, ξὺν πυριδάπτῳ 620
λαμπάδι τερπόμεναι καθ᾽ ὁδόν.
ὀλολύξατε νῦν ἐπὶ μολπαῖς.

σπονδαὶ δ᾽ εἰσόπιν ἔνδαιδες ἴτων. [ἀντ. β.
Παλλάδος ἀστοῖς Ζεὺς ὁ πανόπτας
οὕτω Μοῖρά τε συγκατέβα. 625
ὀλολύξατε νῦν ἐπὶ μολπαῖς.

CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY
J- B. PEACE, M.A.,
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS

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PA Aeschylus
3825 The Oresteia of Aeschylus

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE
CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET

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Full text of "The Oresteia of Aeschylus; Agamemnon, Choephori, Eumenides. The Greek text as arr. for performance at Cambridge with an English verse translation by R.C. Trevelyan"

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